Local beef exporters would need to ensure that beef products are competitive in quality, price and service. Moreover, everyone in the supply chain from pasture to plate – meat importer, shipper, exporter, abattoir owner, and cattle farmer – had to make an acceptable profit.
Agricultural economist Dr Geoffrey Benson made these points at a seminar entitled “Impressions on Opportunities and Challenges for Guyanese Meat and Dairy Products” on Wednesday at the Cara Lodge Hotel, Quamina Street, Georgetown, a press release from Partners of the Americas said yesterday.
The seminar was hosted by the United States Embassy, Georgetown, in collaboration with the Partners of the Americas – Worldwide Farmer to Farmer Program, and conducted by a team of four volunteer specialists from the United States. The specialists focused on opportunities and challenges for local meat and dairy products.
Three of them were from North Carolina State University – team leader Dr Benson, Associate Professor and Extension Economist; Dr Steven Washburn, Professor and Extension Specialist; and Dr John Rushing, Professor/Food Science Extension Leader; and Dr Francis Higdon, Senior Lecturer in Community Economic Development, Pennsylvania State University.
Safety and quality
Dr Rushing pointed out that safety and quality of meats went hand in hand with the development of the export market. According to the release, he noted that in Guyana’s effort to access overseas markets there were roles for government as well as the private sector. Government roles included setting and enforcing a set of rules for the safety and wholesomeness of the product. And for meat exports these rules covered the issues pertaining to the construction, maintenance and operation of abattoirs. He said that government needed to work along with the industry to adopt standards that harmonized with those of trading partners; provide a regulatory structure to produce acceptable levels of health protection; and provide oversight to ensure food safety in the importing countries.
The private sector roles, according to Dr Rushing, included adherence to the rules which would be monitored by a public agency; the construction and sanitation of facilities; training and supervision of personnel; maintenance of records; and consistently complying with the specifications and expectations of the buyers. Meanwhile, Dr Washburn advised the seminar that to achieve successful beef production, it would be necessary to have farm improvement (including water control, fencing, pastures and handling facilities); records to know how one’s animals were performing; and records to know if the cattle enterprise was profitable. He also informed the audience that the quality of a beef animal depended on at least four factors: age, breed, health and the quality and quantity of pastures and supplements. Dr Washburn observed, too, that in the current production system in Guyana animals were taking too long to get to the market.
Dairy industry concerns
Regarding the dairy industry, Washburn observed that while there were some successes in the adoption of practices such as artificial insemination and pasture management, efforts to promote a sustainable commercial dairy processing and marketing model have been unsatisfactory, the release stated. Concerns included an inconsistent supply, low quality of milk and an insufficient scale of facilities and market. He recognized, however, there was an active traditional dairy industry.
Rural sociologist Dr Higdon advised that as Guyana sought to develop its cattle industry policy makers and all stakeholders needed to work within local cultures; be cautious of issues related to the environment and quality of life; build community leadership; facilitate Guyanese entrepreneurs at home and abroad and build public trust and private initiative. He opined, the release said, that there was an obvious role for organizations at the district, regional and national levels but while there were several farmers associations on the books, they were mostly not working.
Team leader Benson, in his closing remarks, observed that all the pieces had to fit together for the effort to be successful, and the four major pieces were discussed under the acronym called PEST which stood for politics/government, economics, social aspects and technical/production issues.
There were discussions following the presentations and issues such as the need for low interest credit, land tenure reform and special help for local entrepreneurs were raised.
Funded by USAID, the Partners of the Americas – Farmer to Farmer Program has been providing technical assistance to the Ministry of Agriculture, New Guyana Marketing Corporation, National Agricultural Research Institute, and National Dairy Development Project, as well as other public and private sector agencies in agriculture.
