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DIDCO reopens $400M Feed Mill
The DIDCO Trading and Company Limited Feed Mill at Friendship, East Bank Demerara that has been closed since a fire on February 18, 2002, has now reopened its doors.
This opening followed a $400 million loan from the Guyana Bank of Trade and Industry (GBTI), said Managing Director, Deo Singh.
Feed being off-loaded from the ship into a truck to be transported into a nearby facility.
Yesterday, a tour of the DIDCO facility revealed that a ship from the United States brought 4,300 tons of corn and soya feed worth $300 million, in addition to all the necessary ingredients to formulate high quality feed. The ingredients are organic and will be sold for poultry, horse, aquaculture, and pigs.
The feed will be sold in Georgetown from Wednesday and countrywide in the coming months.
The Managing Director revealed that feed prices will be very competitive and will possess all the necessary electrolytes and vitamins needed in the feed for development in poultry.
“In 35 days, chickens can weigh four pounds. We ensure that farmers can make money that can be passed down to the consumers.”
“Our feed will have all the ingredients it is supposed to have. Weekly analysis of feeds will be done overseas and will be available for inspection by the Ministry and farmers to examine its quality…There will be no stunted growth.” Deo Singh said.
“We will see consumers having cheaper chicken in eight to ten weeks, and there will be a significant reduction in poultry.”
He added that all the workers that initially worked with the Feed Mill are presently working. He highlighted there is need for skills workers and vacancies exist for electricians, labourers, mechanics, and spray-painters.
Minister of Agriculture, Robert Persaud, said that he is pleased that the Mill is back in operation. Competition is necessary in the market to benefit consumers, he said.
The Minister stated that the Ministry has received reports of skyrocketing prices and farmers are claiming that the feed they are purchasing is not of the right quality; situations were induced to import feed which is an untenable position.
He said that with the expanding livestock sector, feed is very important if there will be competition on the international market, while the livestock market is export looking and competition and quality are important.
Deo Singh
Persaud added if the feed has the quality and required ingredients there will be proper growth and the price decreases necessary for the local market since the consumers will ultimately benefit.
He said that advice was given to the local feed manufacturing sector to develop aquaculture, in which DIDCO will be placing additional investments.
The Minister said that he has been assured that quality will be given premium and that the Guyana National Bureau of Standards will be inspecting the DIDCO Mill collectively with other Mills, which will improve the conditions and services of farmers.
(Rabindra Rooplall)
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