SOME $20.6B has been allocated to the Agriculture Sector next year and expenditure will be concentrated on rapid diversification and enhanced competitiveness.

The sum will also go towards improving drainage and irrigation systems, increase cultivation and productivity in traditional agriculture, promote large-scale agriculture in the Intermediate and Rupununi Savannahs, and strengthen the livestock and fisheries subsectors.

In addition, the Government will be exploring options for the incorporation of efficient green technology in agricultural production and practices.

According to Finance Minister Winston Jordan in his budget presentation Monday, over the last 150 years, Guyana’s agricultural fortunes have been anchored mainly on rice, sugar, and a small scattering of other crops.

“Our un-diversified agriculture sector has become the albatross around our neck, as our main crops are often subjected to the vagaries of price, climate change, and indifferent management, among others.

“As such, there is great urgency for us to evolve with the changing times and, post haste, pursue an aggressive, diversified, agricultural programme. This programme, of necessity, must involve not only primary-staged commodities, but also inputs into the value-added production of food, energy, medicine, and industry, to name a few,” he said.

In 2017, Jordan said the Government will begin to responsibly open the vast Intermediate and Rupununi Savannahs and the arable lands on the upper reaches of the banks of our many rivers, for large agricultural plantations, with a focus on applications for agro-processing and agro-industries.

“We will explore options for non-traditional agricultural crops, such as corn, spices, and
quinoa.

“Mr. Speaker, to ensure the benefits gained from the agricultural diversification and transformation process are realised equitably, the Government will invest in the 54 construction and upgrading of extension offices and facilities in the Intermediate and Rupununi Savannahs,” he told the House.

These facilities will cater for research and other services to the people of the hinterland regions.

Provision is made for the extension of farms at Ebini and Hosororo to facilitate the expansion of orchard crop production and demonstration farms for turmeric, black pepper, ginger, and citrus for farmers and potential investors.

Further, accommodation and laboratory facilities in Region Eight will be rehabilitated to support food security in the region, Minister Jordan said.

In the area of drainage and irrigation, he said, in excess of $2.3 billion is allocated, in 2017, for the completion, construction, rehabilitation, and maintenance of structures, including pump stations and sluices, and the purchase and installation of drainage and irrigation pumps.

The NDIA will also complete a comprehensive mapping of all drainage and irrigation structures and systems.

“To build a more robust and competitive livestock sub-sector, the Government will continue to focus on animal health, through greater disease surveillance and control, genetic improvements for enhanced productivity and profitability of cattle, and animal production,” the finance minister said.

To this end, in 2017, the Government will train its veterinary diagnostic laboratory technicians in areas such as microbiology, serology, pathology, and molecular biology.
Efforts will also be made to enhance embryo transplant services, which play a critical role in producing pure-bred calves.

“In an effort to promote a more mature and well-rounded fisheries sub-sector, the Government has signed on to the Port States Management Measures Agreement, which seeks to combat illegal, un-reported, and unregulated fishing. In addition, we will explore the option of the further promotion of deep sea fishing, as it is currently, an under-utilised resource that is within our Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The private sector has already taken the initiative to pursue this option and has invested US$15 million in a processing plant for tuna– the first ever commercial tuna venture in the country,” Jordan said.