Local companies and farmers are being encouraged to take advantage of the opportunities and financing available under the new Sustainable Feed Manufacturing Project 2023, which was launched today by the Barbados Manufacturers’ Association (BMA).
Minister of Industry, Innovation, Science and Technology, Davidson Ishmael, said the creation of sustainable and organic feeds for the agricultural sector meant that feed production would be diversified, using local inputs.
He added that where local inputs were not accessible, due to seasonality, the raw materials to produce the feed would then be sourced from partners within the region such as Guyana, in an effort “to maintain a satisfactory level of high-nutrient content within the feeds”.
“It must be noted that quality is an essential factor even as we seek to manufacture products that can be exported and compete across the world. Quality, therefore, must be at the centre of everything we do as a country. The expectations regarding organic foods are high: they should be pesticide-free, tasty and healthy, and should be processed in an environmentally-friendly and socially responsible way.
“I assure you that Government is committed to supporting the development of high-quality products and, therefore, I am also pleased to hear of the work that the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture will be doing with reference to the project; all in an effort to ensure that the quality of these feeds is high,” Mr. Ishmael stated.
The Industry Minister further noted that financing for those interested in manufacturing the organic feed would be available through Courts Ready Finance, a Division of Unicomer Barbados Limited.
He said the company would provide loans to farmers and manufacturers who want to pursue this area of manufacturing “making financing accessible to Barbadians to develop businesses that can support their families while growing our economy”.
Mr. Ishmael pointed out that global catastrophic events such as the war in the Ukraine, climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic have shown that sustainable commodity production is essential to the livelihoods and survival of the Caribbean region.
“We are aware that CARICOM plays a critical role in supporting food security efforts in the interest of the people. COVID-19 has taught us that the region should galvanise local production to meet future demands for products,” he stated.
He noted that research, development and innovation through the use of suitable equipment, would be essential to the success of the project. To this end, he disclosed that a local company, Equip 4 You, would be sourcing equipment to assist those who are interested in developing a niche in the area of organic feed manufacturing.
Additionally, a number of other entities will be partnering with the BMA to ensure the success of the project. They are the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI), which will provide guidance, not only on the project’s viability, but also with sourcing regional materials as inputs into organic feed production; the Barbados National Standards Institution and the TVET Council, which will ensure the project’s sustainability and promotion both locally and in the international arena, and the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture.
“I assure you that my Ministry will continue to work in tandem with other stakeholders to provide the necessary enabling environment for both farmers and manufacturers to thrive,” Mr. Ishmael emphasised.