– First shipment pioneered by NAAG
AQUACULTURE pioneer in Guyana and Chairman of the National Aquaculture Association of Guyana (NAAG), Mr. Beni Sankar, has reported that his company has exported approximately 1,000 pounds of high-quality tilapia to a market in New York, United States.

Before being shipped last month to grateful consumers, the superior red and Nile species tilapia were produced at Mr. Sankar’s farm at Von Better, West Coast Berbice and processed and packaged at Guyana Quality Seafoods on the East Bank Demerara.

A statement from NAAG said Sankar, who has already sold several thousand pounds of red and Nile tilapia, pacu and hassar on the local market, and who personally supervised the processing of his produce, was in “an upbeat mood” following this first shipment to the U.S. market.

“Aquaculture has great potential for improving Guyana (and) as a rice farmer, I can tell you that aquaculture is a much more profitable venture, and once you follow the basic principles it is not difficult to produce an export quality product,” Sankar said.

When asked as to the significance of this export for NAAG, Mr. Sankar said, “NAAG is not a talk shop organisation. We have a very good team of people, and a unique private sector-donor-Government partnership. We meet every week to solve real problems and come up with practical solutions for the development of aqua-culture.”

He also indicated that with the support of NAAG, other pioneers will be able to produce and export quality products in the near future.

When asked about the importance of this shipment of tilapia, Mr. Maurice Gopie, the proprietor of Guyana Quality Seafoods, stated: “The catches of marine fish are on the decline, which has grave consequences for processing plants and their employees. The supply of aquaculture fish, such as tilapia, can help to sustain jobs in processing plants, maintain our export markets and reduce closed periods experienced by processing plants in light of declining catches.”

NAAG is participating in GUYEXPO 2007 which opened yesterday under the theme “Partnering for Progress”, a theme which Sankar said NAAG epitomises.

“Drop by our booth, see what we are doing to drive aquaculture development; come and get information on the services we provide, and links to various inputs necessary for aquaculture,” he said.

NAAG was formed in early 2006, and has as its members a variety of stakeholders that help contribute to the sustainable development of the aquaculture sector.

Members include private farmers, lending agencies, government agencies, as well as feed producers and processors.

NAAG seeks to identify the constraints to aquaculture development and initiate actions to remove them.

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID)/Guyana Trade and Investment Support (GTIS) project has been providing critical support to NAAG, and to the three pioneers in the emerging aquaculture sector, one of whom is Mr. Beni Sankar.

Further support provided by the USAID/GTIS project has also allowed NAAG to become a member of the American Tilapia Association and the World Aquaculture Society.

To assist with aquaculture development, NAAG said it has also received support from the British High Commission, the UK Department for International Development (DFID), and has commenced discussions with the European Union Micro-Projects fund.

USAID-GTIS provides assistance to private sector firms and organizations and government institutions to assist Guyana to become more competitive and develop export market opportunities.