DDL unfurls its banner of excellence and introduces innovative technology for Guyana’s development

Jan 21, 2024 Consumer Concerns, Features / Columnists, News, Waterfalls Magazine

By Pat Dial

Waterfalls Magazine – Early last year when Demerara Distillers Ltd – DDL – was making arrangements for their fresh milk project, this column welcomed their innovative and imaginative effort. Today, consumers now rejoice at the taking off of their modern and state-of-the art facility to produce fresh milk and other dairy products.

This DDL effort is satisfying a need which has affected Guyanese consumers for over half a century for until the end of the 1950’s fresh milk as well as pasteurized milk was available to consumers in both town and country in adequate supply. From the beginning of the 1960’s, however, when the country became engulfed in political conflict which all but destroyed its social and economic life, the prosperous milk industry was one of the first casualties.

Resuscitating the dairy industry to modern First World standards was a challenge which no other company or entrepreneur felt themselves able to take on. When Mr. Komal Samaroo, the CEO of Demerara Distillers Ltd (DDL) decided to take on the challenge, consumers felt very happy since Mr. Samaroo’s stature as one of the Caribbean’s most able businessmen gave the assurance that the project will be a success. Indeed, Mr. Samaroo and DDL has the reputation that any project they undertake is well researched and planned and will not only be profitable to the company and its shareholders but will also be of benefit to society as a whole and the dairy project is a good example: Normally, a company embarking on a dairy project will tend to seek partners and technology transfer from Denmark, Holland or Germany but DDL, after comprehensive research, found Israel to be a preferable partner. The project will not only be profitable but will be satisfying a long felt consumer need, will be improving the dietary quality of the nation, will be saving the country foreign exchange and will eventually be a net foreign exchange earner for the country.

The Project introduces to Guyana a unique method of dairy farming. The cows will not be grazed but will live in their pens where they will be fed a diet of nutritional food produced on the project’s farm. The pens will be temperature controlled to ensure the animals’ comfort and each animal would be monitored electronically to ensure its health. Over 900 animals would be imported from the United States and all the export requirements have already been completed. Over four million litres of fresh milk would be produced per year and this would be transported to DDL’S TOPCO milk plant for packaging and pasteurization.

The farm is situated at Moblissa on the Soesdyke/Linden Highway and the main access road is being rehabilitated and a new bridge is being built to facilitate transport of milk to the TOPCO plant for final processing. This work would have been completed within the month. The 500 acres of land allocated to produce the animal fodder is being cleared and levelled and corn and legumes are being planted. When harvested, these crops are taken to the barn where they are formulated with other ingredients and nutritional fodder is prepared for the requirements of the different categories of animals. Three very large wells are being constructed and these would supply adequate water for the Project. DDL is investing over $4 billion in the Project and the Project Manager is Mr. Wesley Kirton. The Project is scheduled to be completed early next year and the consumer community is eagerly looking forward to the availability of the highest quality of milk and other dairy products on the local market.

DDL has been able to survive and prosper in a world of stiff competition by its ability to profitably diversify and meet consumer requirements: By international acclaim it produces the best rums in the world; now it is embarking on producing milk and dairy products of the highest quality!

CONSUMER CONCERNS, Demerara Distillers Ltd, Guyana, Mr. Komal Samaroo, PAT DIAL

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