Guyana working with Indonesia to train locals in crab-cage farming

President Dr Irfaan Ali on Wednesday disclosed that the Guyana Government is working with experts in Indonesia to train Guyanese to do crab-cage farming, so that they tap into the lucrative market.

The Head of State made this announcement at the commissioning of the new $434.5 million Waramuri Secondary School in Region One (Barima-Waini).

He explained that crab meat is high value, noting that the various world-class hotels being built in the country would have to import this to make well-known dishes like crab cakes.

However, if Guyana could produce enough crab meat, the President noted, then it could be supplied to not just hotels but supermarkets. But this requires expanded production and this is where the Indonesian experts will play a role.

“We’re already talking with a team from Indonesia to come here and work with our farmers to do cage crab farming. So, we don’t need to wait on the season alone. We can do it year-round [to] get the crab, take it to the processing facility so you get higher prices and we create more opportunities for the local economy,” President Ali stated.

This initiative is one of two projects that the Guyanese Leader proposed to roll out for four communities in Region One – Waramuri, Manawarin, Haimarakabra, and Para.

The second initiative will see Government working with the more than 600 households in these indigenous communities to empower them with financial and technical support to expand cassava production and build out a cassava mill facility so that they can get more value from their produce.

“So, we’ll invest with you in the tools, the equipment and the money to expand your production… We will build the facility to process it, get the cassareep and flour out of it. But more importantly, we don’t want you to go and sell it, we will get the Guyana Marketing Corporation to come to that facility, take your product, pay you at a stable market price and take it to the market,” the President informed residents.

According to Ali, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government is not just about giving out cash grants to citizens, which it has done and will continue to do, but it is committed to creating economic opportunities to empower every Guyanese.

“The future that we have before us is an exciting one,” the Head of State posited.