Minister of Agriculture, Robert Persaud today commissioned a state of the art kiln drying facility at Land of Plenty, Essequibo.
The Government Information Agency said that the initiative was a collaborative effort of the Guyana Forestry Commission and the Essequibo Kiln Drying Association and was built by a German Company, Mahild at a cost of approximately $20M.
It is the first of its kind to be set up in Essequibo. GINA said Essequibo accounts for half of all the production or extraction of the timber resources. It has about eight lumber yards, six saw mills and 10 furniture manufacturing enterprises on the coast and the wood processing enterprises were depending on the wood to be air dried which is not the best method.
The kiln will ensure that the 10 enterprises and other organizations can take their lumber to the facility which has the capacity for drying 1000 bm to get better value for their products and consumers will get better products and subsequently move the export quality to a better level.
Head of Finance, Guyana Forestry Commission, Edward Goberdhan urged persons, particularly students from the Guyana School of Agriculture and the Essequibo Technical Institute to learn to operate and maintain the facility as free training will be provided.
