Chicken production expected to plunge 13%

Nov 06, 2010 News

…strong showing for forestry but sugar dismal

After a dismal 2009, Guyana’s forest industry recorded growth of 11.8 percent, due to a combination of market, policy and environmental conditions, government’s mid year report has revealed.
In particular, there was marked improvement in forest operators’ compliance with verification systems allowing for a timely issuance of permits and which led to earlier harvesting.
“As a consequence, the comparative performance for the second half, relative to last year will be at a more moderate level as harvesters are expected to conclude operations much earlier in the second half. The whole year growth is now projected at 4.4 percent.”
Sugar
In the agriculture sector, sugar continued its dismal performance with the first crop declining by 1.8 percent to 81,864 tonnes.
This, the report blamed on the prolonged dry-season El Nino conditions which played a primary role in reduced sucrose content and the lack of water in the canals hampered the transportation of canes from field to factory.
“Taking these and other factors into consideration, the whole year target has been revised downwards from 280,000 tonnes to 260,000 tonnes, and projected growth has been revised from 19.8 percent set at budget to a more modest 11.2 percent.”
Meanwhile, works continue on the Turnaround Plan of the Guyana Sugar Corporation which would see the realization of increased acreage under cultivation and improvements in the cane to sugar ratio, all aided by more stable industrial relations.
Rice
According to the report, given the “strong performance” of the rice industry in 2009, especially the second crop performance which resulted in an overall output last year of 359,789 tonnes, a more moderate target of 343,373 tonnes was set for this year.
“At the time of budget, it was anticipated that prevailing El Nino conditions at the end of 2009 would continue well into 2010, adversely affecting sowing of paddy with resultant lower acreage planted and lower production.”
However, early Government intervention mainly through assistance given to farmers resulted in higher acreages sown than initially projected. It also resulted in increased yields of paddy as a result of the sharing of improved farming practices with farmers which included better management of water resources and farm practices and a 2010 first crop performance of 168,267 tonnes which was 4.6 percent better than first crop 2009.
“While this trend of improved yields is expected to continue into the second crop the onset of unseasonal rains has led to the target of 188,111 tonnes being maintained. The revised rice industry’s annual target of 356,378 tonnes will now be some 13,005 tonnes better than the budgeted target and results in an anticipated decline of the industry’s output by just 0.9 percent compared to 4.6 percent at the time of budget.”
Other crops
The other crops industry has grown by 1.5 percent in the first half and is now projected to grow by 1.6 percent, compared to the 2.1 percent at the time of budget.
According to the report, livestock was targeted to grow by 2.9 percent this year. At the heart of the livestock industry’s performance is the poultry sub-industry.
“At the half year the industry is estimated to have declined by 14.2 percent with production expected to recover sometime in the second half. This is as a result of unanticipated shortfall in the production of poultry meat and eggs. Notwithstanding the anticipated recovery, the output of the sector is projected to contract by 13.2 percent.”
The fishing industry was conservatively targeted to grow by 0.5 percent over the production of 2009. Performance in the first half of 2010 is estimated to be two percent over the first half of 2009.
With the current changed weather conditions and the expectation that the fishing grounds, given the suspension of intense harvesting, it will recover in the second half of the year.
An improved estimate of 0.8 percent is now given for the industry for the whole year anticipated performance.

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Chicken production expected to plunge 13%

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