Exports of non-traditional produce up to November this year was up slightly – 4% – compared to the same period last year while there was a 13% decline in exports of processed agro-products for the same period.
Overall, the total volume of non-traditional agricultural produce and products exported was 10,832 metric tonnes compared to 10,705 tonnes in 2011, according to information from the Ministry of Agriculture. This increase was recorded despite the unavailability of adequate air cargo space to preferred markets and fluctuating supplies caused by weather conditions experienced during the year, the ministry said.
It said that the exports by sea increased 3% while exports by air declined 28%. Exports of fresh produce increased by 4% from 8,693 metric tonnes in 2011 to 9,083 metric tonnes up to November 2012, while exports of pro-cessed agro-products declined by 13% from 2,012 metric tonnes in 2011 to 1,749 metric tonnes in 2012.
The ministry said that the Guyana Marketing Corpora-tion (GMC) continued to operate its packaging facilities at Sophia and Parika which provided a central place for farmers’ produce to be prepared and inspected prior to being exported and up to November, the volume of produce prepared for export at these facilities was 319 tonnes.
It also said that the GMC continued to provide its Business Facilitation Services to farmers, manufacturers and exporters. “Through these services, Guyana continued to supply its overseas markets, both Regionally and Extra-Regionally, with adequate supplies of fresh and process-ed non-traditional agricultural products,” the Ministry said.
Meantime, the ministry noted that the GMC spearheaded the development and coordination of a new methodology for enhancing production statistics. “This new tool will enable a better understanding of the production of cash crops in Guyana, which until now was largely a guessing game,” it said.
It added that the GMC conducted a market identification study and from July-August, important marketing information was obtained from Market Identification Visits carried out in Trinidad & Tobago, Barbados, Antigua and Barbuda and St. Lucia. The focus was on pepper, pumpkin, pineapple and plantains.
The ministry said that as a follow-up from the Market Identification Study, a Competitiveness Assessment for Peppers, Pumpkin, Plantain and Pineapple was completed in August 2012. Among the four markets, pepper and plantain are most attractive (offer the highest price) in Barbados and Trinidad, the ministry said. While pumpkin is attractive in Barbados and Antigua, pineapple is most attractive in Trinidad and St. Lucia and based on the findings, Guyana is competitive in the export of pineapples to Trinidad and St. Lucia, the ministry said.
Meantime, it said that coconut is a priority for 2013. An analysis of the coconut industry in Guyana revealed that there is a growing demand for coconuts and coconut products both domestically, regionally and internationally, the ministry said.
It asserted that it has made coconut a priority for 2013. It recalled that for this year, a research and development support programme for value-added products from coconuts was established and the ministry hosted an internal coconut assessment meeting during December 2012 to bring a new focus on the coconut industry. A National Stakeholder Coconut Conference with international participation will be held in January 2013 to promote the capacity to take advantage of the opportunities to export Guyana’s coconut products such as coconut water and coconut oil, the ministry added.
