Agriculture Month 2011 provides a chance to…

ACCOUNT TO THE GUYANESE PEOPLE
– Minister says accomplishments to date have exceeded targets set in PPP/C manifesto
AGRICULTURE Minister Robert Persaud contends that Agriculture Month 2011 will not only be used to celebrate the achievements made in the sector in the last five years, but will also provide an opportunity to give an account of the administration’s stewardship in advancing the sector.
Speaking at a press briefing yesterday, he said, “We will use Agriculture Month to account to the farmers and the other stakeholders…we have surpassed our initial targets that were set in the 2006 manifesto.”
He maintained that the resources allocated to the sector since 2006 have been well utilized, the results of which are being realized now.
According to the Agriculture Minister, all the sectors have performed credibly, expressly the rice sector, which will close 2011 with the highest production figures in the country’s history.
Rice export earnings expanded by 35.5 percent to US$154.6 million, mainly attributable to a 28.9 percent increase in export volume to 336,313 tonnes coupled with a 5.1 percent increase in average export prices in 2010.
The livestock sector, last year, recorded a decline in production by 1.1 percent in 2010. This was mainly as a result of an unanticipated shortfall in poultry production during the first half of the year, which recovered somewhat but could not fully compensate during the second half of the year.
The fishing sector also rebounded in the second half of 2010 to end with 7.4 percent growth, as harvesting activity accelerated as the year progressed.
In 2010 this sector recorded modest growth of 1.4 percent for the year, reflecting increased production of logs, lumber, sawnwood, and plywood, even though plywood production ceased towards the end of the year due to boiler damage at the plywood plant.
Persaud acknowledged the challenges that have faced the sector, particularly in the sugar industry, but maintained that the stage is set for the sector to not only overcome these, but advance to the next level.
Export receipts from sugar suffered a 13.2 percent decline to US$104 million, on account of a 9.8 percent decline in the average export price and lower export volume

SURPASSING TARGETS
The Agriculture Minister pointed out that in the sugar sector: the Enmore Packaging Facility was commissioned; the cost of production has been reduced allowing the sector to remain competitive on the world market; and the National Adaptation Strategy for the sector was finalized – one of many achievements.
In the rice sector, he noted that the successes include: increasing productivity through enhanced technologies to improve efficiency; extended technical support services and training to farmers; and the development of an aggressive marketing machinery to provide stakeholders with decision-making information and assist in the capture of new markets.
The Fisheries sector, Persaud said, has been expanded and general regulations, aquaculture legislations and fish processing regulations are being finalized, among other advances.
The other crops, livestock, forestry and the drainage and irrigation sub-sectors have also seen an infusion of massive investments that have yielded results.
Persaud pointed out that other national policies and programmes have provided significant impetus to advance the sector, for example the Low Carbon Development Strategy that supports the advance of the forestry sector.
The other crops sector grew by 2.5 percent, a performance which reflects the effectiveness of Government’s Grow More Food Campaign and the fact that this programme has now matured and has built its own momentum.
The Agriculture Minister stated that partnerships with agencies, such as the Inter-American Development Bank, have supported the sector’s advance.
The Agriculture Diversification Programme (ADP) is the result of such a partnership. Funded by the Inter-American Development Bank at a cost of US$21.9M with counterpart funding from the Government of Guyana of US$1.1M, the programme targets an increase in the export of non-traditional agricultural commodities and it seeks to establish services and institutions for a sustainable increase in the income derived from the export of non-traditional agricultural exports in the aquaculture, fruits and vegetables, and livestock sub-sectors such as beef. Other areas of focus under the APD are peppers, pumpkins and plantains, the three Ps.

FOOD SECURITY FOCUS
This year, the theme for Agriculture Month is ‘Sustaining Food and Nutritional Security in Guyana’, emphasizing an increased focus on food security.
The Agriculture Minister maintained that the investments made by Guyana has resulted in the country’s reality being one of abundance and accessibility to food by all the people – a result of sensible planning and the implementation of appropriate policy interventions.
“Guyana is the leading food producer and will continue to offer its support in aiding the region. In fact, our Grow More Food Campaign has the supply for the region once countries remove the barriers,” Persaud said.
He contends that Guyana is food secure, a status Guyana is seeking to maintain, and without food security citizens are deprived of the fundamental rights to live fulfilling lives – a result of the constant engagement and support to national agriculture.
“Our commitment to national agriculture has been outstanding as compared to the rest of the Caribbean Region,” Persaud said.
The Agriculture Minister contends that addressing food insecurity is an imperative as, faced with the current increases in food prices on the world market; countries can face problems of political and social instability, among other difficulties.

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