Taxes should be imposed on pork importation - Agri. Minister

Taxes should be imposed on pork importation – Agri. Minister

Feb 08, 2014 News

Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy believes that the only way to increase local pork production is by imposing Value Added Tax on importation of the meat.

Agriculture Minister,
Dr. Leslie Ramsammy

The Minister explained that the unfortunate situation is that that imported pork is being sold cheaper than that which is produced and sold locally.
“On one hand we’re trying to boost local production and then we have a situation like this. The competition is not fair and we will have to revisit our policy,” Dr. Ramsammy posited.
He said that chicken can remain tax free since that industry has been thriving.
The Agriculture Minister told Kaieteur News during a recent interview that the production of pork has been one of the major disappointments during the last year, especially since there has been a decrease in the number of persons rearing pigs.
Unlike cattle and poultry, swine farmers would rear on a small scale, since the cost to maintain the animals, would exceed their profits.
Over the years, there have been several incidents of a significant shortage in pork, and the lovers of this meat would usually make repeated complaints about the exorbitant prices at which it would be sold.
At one point, it was believed that the shortage was fueled by Brazilians who utilize pork in making many of the items on their restaurant menu.
At one point, in 2012, there was a continuous slide in the supply of pork. It was to this end that Guyana Government granted a licence to import approximately 500, 000 pounds pork. The licence was valid for only three months. The name of the importer was never disclosed. At that time, pork was being sold by retailers at a whopping $700 per pound.
For quite some time now, there has been a growing demand for pork. The local consumption would usually exceed three million kilograms (6.7 million pounds).
This shortage was one of the factors considered as the Agriculture Ministry embarked on a programme to create a better breed of animals. However, according to Dr. Ramsammy, often times, the animals used in the Artificial Insemination (AI) process to create the improved breeds are being slaughtered before they are reproduced.
Meanwhile, on the contrary, Dr. Ramsammy announced that artificial insemination trials have recorded a 60% success, despite the global record being at merely 40 per cent.
He noted that in 2013, approximately 2,500 artificial insemination trials were done. This is in addition to 63 successful embryo transplants.
The Artificial Insemination programme entails local animals being used as surrogate mothers for high standard genetics.
The procedures are currently being done at the Artificial Insemination Laboratory at Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara. The $28.2M facility was commissioned in October 2012, with the aim of producing animals with higher quality genetics, which would ultimately result in better quality and export-ready meat, while ensuring food security.
This initiative, the Minister had said, would also seek to protect Guyana’s status as the food basket of the Caribbean.
Dr. Ramsammy explained that if Guyana wants to enhance its economy and ensure food safety, producing meat of better size and quality is vital. Thus, allowing Guyana to be equipped and qualified to export its meat, as opposed to importing it.
“We need to start buying more local,” Dr. Ramsammy emphasized, noting that Guyana has one of the largest Import Food Bill in the Caribbean.