GUYANA – FAST TRACK SECTOR DEVELOPMENT
(FIRST DRAFT 12/09/05)
Executive Summary
Guyana needs to increase its exports. Export of traditional agricultural and miningproducts are going down. Guyana has to take advantage of its climate, irrigationfacilities and agricultural infrastructure to create economic opportunities for ruralpeople and generate foreign exchange.Targeting Commercial Aquaculture for Fast-Track Sector Development in Guyanais part of this bold strategy. Up to now, development of Aquaculture in Guyana isoriented mostly to social aquaculture and research and demonstrative activities.New Line Aqua Farm in the West Bank of Demerara is a private company with astate of the art operation tilapia production facility with 100 acres of ponds,advanced technology, fingerling and balanced food production plant that is trying toprove the potential of Commercial Aquaculture in Guyana.We are choosing to target and promote aquaculture for four fundamental reasons:
Commercial Aquaculture has a significant economic impact.
The incomepotential of an acre of tilapia aquaculture is 25,000 pound per acre and an estimateof US$75,000 in export markets. The development of 1,000 acres can bring up to50-60 million dollars in exports. Even with local markets the economic impact onrural areas is important
Successful experience in other developing countries in the Caribbean andSouth America.
Countries as Brazil, Ecuador and Colombia are showingimpressive growth in production and have become leading aquaculture producersin the world.
Guyana agricultural infrastructure provides special advantages tocommercial aquaculture development.
The infrastructure developed for riceproduction can be adapted for Commercial Aquaculture in different levels ofinvestment. The cost of developing a 10 acre 5 pond system is estimated inUS$15,000, lower than starting with a “greenfield” operation in other areas.
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