Local fish feed production closer

DPI, GUYANA, Thursday, February 1, 2018

Guyana could soon see the production of local fish feed with the acquisition of feed machine. This was disclosed by Head of the Fisheries Department, Denzil Roberts.

The Fisheries Head disclosed to the Department of Public Information (DPI), procuring the machine will aid in reducing the cost of importation.

With the cost of local feed production in aquaculture sector being prohibitive, importation was seen as the better option since there was not much demand for the locally manufacture feed because of the high cost of production.

“In our budget, we had placed a request for a feed machine capable of producing 30-40kg of feed per hour. So, when it arrives we will try to develop feeds using local ingredients. If you can develop something specific to an area it would be better than having to import,” Roberts explained.

Last year, with the assistance of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), a volunteer from the Fisheries Department received six months training in local fish feed production. According to Roberts, the department has also been successful in terms of retaining the feed’s physical characteristic in their trial runs. They are currently developing more ideas for a local feed product.

The manufacture of fish food will incorporate local inputs with the use of mostly indigenous materials. This effort will aid in government’s drive to diversify agriculture in the hinterland regions and reduce the cost of production.

 

By: Stephon Gabriel

 

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