Opposition and Agriculture Ministry clash over importation of cattle from Brazil and transport conditions

The Opposition has flagged the importation of 300 pregnant heifers from Brazil with A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) contending that the cattle were stranded for more than 72 hours, resulting in a number of them dying.

Over the weekend, the Ministry of Agriculture said the first shipment of 300 pregnant heifers under the Government’s national herd expansion programme had been received.

The programme provides for the procurement of 1,000 pregnant heifers from Brazil to enhance the national breeding herd, and support increased beef and dairy production in the country.

The Agriculture Ministry said the first consignment is destined for its Agriculture’s Breeding and Research Centre at Ebini in the Berbice River.

But today, the APNU questioned whether the heifers were really intended for Ebini.

During a live broadcast at Tacama Landing in the Berbice River, Region 10, APNU Member of Parliament Terrence Campbell said the pregnant heifers, which were being transported in about 25 trucks, were unable to cross over to Ebini due to poor preparations.

He said it is either the heifers were intended for another mega farm or the Ministry of Agriculture failed to plan properly.

“What we are seeing here is absolutely no preparation, and Zulfikar Mustapha cannot come to tell me that these cows were destined to go to Ebini and you didn’t have proper arrangements in place. And we have heard, they are already experiencing mortality because these cows are extremely stressed,” MP Campbell said.

MP Campbell said information reaching him suggests that the personnel at the Ministry of Agriculture were only informed of the shipment at the very last minute, and as such, proper preparations were not put in place.

It was explained that once at the Tacama Landing, hours elapsed before a barge arrived to transport the trucks over the river to Ebini.

“They couldn’t get a barge that could take the cows across, they finally found a barge but then they had to get an excavator to work on both sides to accommodate the landing of the barge…and even the three trucks that are there, they can’t be offloaded,” MP Campbell explained

MP Campbell was accompanied to the location by MP Sherod Duncan and MP Saiku Andrews. MP Andrews said if indeed Ebini was the final destination for the heifers, then the Agriculture Ministry had more than enough time to facilitate the proper transportation of the cattle.

“If we are aware that 300 cows are coming all the way from Brazil, we have sufficient time to make preparations, we got to know what time they leave, what time they are going to arrive, and preparations should have been made. Now, if you look at this, then you would see clearly that no preparations have been made for these trucks,” he said.

The Agriculture Ministry said at Ebini, the animals will become part of the national breeding programme designed to improve the country’s genetic stock and expand cattle production.

It said the multimillion-investment reflects the Government’s continued commitment to building a modern and resilient livestock industry, adding that the expansion of the national herd with quality breeding animals will create opportunities for farmers, reduce dependence on imported breeding stock and contribute to the country’s food security objectives.

But the Opposition Leader, Azruddin Mohamed in a live broadcast today said the statement released by the Ministry of Agriculture on Saturday,was only made after the Government learnt that the Opposition was monitoring the shipment.

“Just days ago, I received reliable information that approximately 300 Brazilian cows were brought to Guyana, once the 300 cows were on their way from Brazil to Lethem, I received a phone call. When the PPP realized that I was monitoring the movement of these cattle they changed the destination. We all know where these cows were headed,” he said.

Like the APNU MPs, the We Invest in Nationhood Member of Parliament also contended that Ebini was not the initial destination for the cattle.

According to the Agriculture Ministry, the pregnant heifers were procured from Coopera of Brazil at a cost of $245,000 each. It said the animals have all successfully completed the required veterinary health inspections, testing and quarantine procedures.

The remaining shipments, it said, will arrive in keeping with the contractual schedule until the full complement of 1,000 pregnant heifers has been delivered.

You must be logged in to post a comment Login

Landlord’s suspicion led to discovery of pregnant woman’s body in shallow grave; Suspect in custody