– beef, pork, mutton, fish output up slightly
The latest Commodity Market Update released by the Ministry of Agriculture points to a significant decline in poultry and table eggs production between January and September, compared with the corresponding period last year while beef, mutton and pork recorded increased production over the same periods mentioned.
According to the ministry’s Commodity Market Update, poultry production dropped by 16.88% during January to September, compared with the same period last year. The decline in poultry production, the ministry said, is accounted for by a third quarter decrease in of 10.22% with a significant shortfall in output occurring in August this year compared with the same month in 2009.
Meanwhile, the Agriculture Ministry is reporting a continual decline in table egg production with January to September, being the worst performing months of 2010 when production is compared with the same months in 2009.
Beef production fared only marginally better than the poultry and table eggs sectors, recording a slim 0.86% production increase between January and September over the same period last year. The sector’s slight improvement in performance for this year so far has been helped significantly by a 5.78% production increase during the third quarter of this year.
Mutton production fared better recording a 4.39% production increase over the corresponding 2009 and 2010 January to September periods. As in the case of pork production, this increase was helped by an improved third quarter in the industry during which it recorded a 4.99% production increase over the corresponding period last year.
The output of pork also increased for the comparative periods of January to September 2009 and 2010 with production increasing by 13.20%. According to the ministry, “plausible” increases in pork production were recorded in July and August this year.
Meanwhile the ministry indicated that “marine resources” recorded a 9.08% production increase during the first six months of this year compared with the corresponding period in 2009. According to the ministry, the overall improved performance of the sector over the period is accounted for by “a continuous rise in production over the first and second quarters of the year. Statistics provided indicate that shrimp output increased by 1.81% over the same period last year and that the overall increase in shrimp output was accounted for by a 36.16% increase in seabob catch. According to the ministry, significant increases were also recorded in the output of prawns while the output of red snapper rose by a whopping 44.55%.
The ministry reports a “general increase” in the various sub-sets of the aquaculture sector during the first half of 2010, accounted for by an increase of 300% in the output of tilapia during the second quarter. The second largest aquaculture output was queriman, followed by mullet, black shrimp and basha. The ministry says that, overall, aquaculture production appears to be on the rise.
Meanwhile, the Commodity Market Update reports “significant increases” in the production of pineapples, water melon and plantains with decreases being recorded in the production of mangoes, passion fruit and dried coconuts. The overall production of vegetables increased significantly during the third quarter, with the major increases being recorded in the production of boulanger and cucumber. Root crop output also recorded major increases with sweet potato and eddo recording the highest. Cassava production fell during the third quarter of this year.
Meanwhile, the vagaries of production levels and demand have been reflected in market prices as consumers paid increased prices for boulanger, bora and cucumber during the third quarter of this year. Conversely, improved supplies resulted in lower prices for pumpkin, and tomatoes during the same period.
During the third quarter of this year the prices for pineapple, papaw and coconut rose while the prices of all categories of citrus, mango and plantain fell. Watermelon prices remained stable, while watermelon and pineapple exports both fell.
The third quarter of this year saw increases in all categories of seasonings with eschallot prices increasing by 103%. The Agriculture Ministry attributes seasoning price increases to heavy rainfall and resulting flooding in areas of West Coast Berbice, the major seasoning producing area in the country. Exports of wiri wiri pepper increased during the third quarter of this year reducing supplies on the local market. Over the past three months the price of yams has increased while ginger, sweet potato and cassava prices have all dropped. While eddo exports increased during the third quarter of this year prices on the local market remained relatively stable.
Meanwhile, the Commodity Market Update is reporting an increase in coconut water and crude coconut oil exports during the third quarter of this year with prices on the local market increasing as a consequence of higher export demand.
