A visiting ministerial delegation from Belize has declared the development of a state-of-the art dairy farm in Guyana as “a visionary, innovative, environmentally sound and community conscious initiative” which should serve as a model for the CARICOM region.
The declaration followed more than three hours of technical exchanges and detailed examination of several factors including farm design and layout, feed cultivation choices and practices, waste utilization and environmental impact.
Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) on Saturday March 28, hosted Belize’s Minister of Sustainable Development, Climate Change and Solid Waste Management, Honourable Orlando Habet on a tour of its state-of-the-art dairy farm at Moblissa on the Soesdyke/Linden Highway. Also joining the tour were Mr. Wilmot Garnett, Country Representative of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) and Guyanese veterinarian Dr. Steve Surujbally. They are all qualified and experienced practitioners in dairy operations.
During the engagement, the Minister accompanied by Belize’s High Commissioner to Guyana Ambassador Gale Garnett were given an overview of the DDL dairy
project, a strategic investment designed to strengthen local production capacity, reduce reliance on imports, and support national and regional food security objectives.
The tour was conducted by a team headed by Executive Chairman of Demerara Dairies Inc. Komal Samaroo who pointed out that the project is a critical element of DDL’s diversification programme designed to meet local and regional demand for milk and related products. “This is a very important and innovative project for us, one that we have been developing over the past three years and where we have already made significant progress. We believe it will play a meaningful role not only in Guyana, but across the region, particularly as we advance shared food security goals and support the growth of agriculture and agro-processing,” said Mr. Samaroo.
The project reflects DDL’s broader commitment to supporting Guyana’s agricultural transformation, with a focus on innovation, technical partnerships, and long-term sustainability.
Minister Habet in his remarks during the tour said “What stands out is the scale and level of innovation behind this initiative. It is not only about primary production, but also value-added processing, which is critical for food security and economic growth. This is the kind of project that can serve as a model for the region as we deepen collaboration across sectors,” the Minister pointed out.
Minister Habet also noted the benefits to the community resulting from the project including the installation of electrical power lines and the construction of a community centre by DDL and the construction of a new bridge and the paving of the main road by the Government of Guyana. This, he said, is an admirable demonstration of private/public cooperation.
The engagement also provided an opportunity for continued dialogue on shared priorities between Guyana and Belize, including potential collaboration in agriculture, energy, and other areas of mutual interest, while reinforcing the importance of regional integration under the CARICOM framework.
DDL remains committed to supporting Guyana’s agricultural development and contributing to a more sustainable and food-secure Caribbean.
