ASSISTANT Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations, Dr. Julio A. Berdegue, said that the FAO has pledged US$20M in grant aid to develop Guyana’s food sector.

At the time he was meeting with Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo. In assuring Prime Minister Nagamootoo of the FAO’s continued support for Guyana’s agricultural drive, Dr. Berdegue on Friday explained that the grant will help the country to develop what he described as “the tremendous untapped possibilities of Guyana in the food sector.”
He noted too that the FAO will strengthen its presence in Guyana, which is recognised as the agricultural reservoir of the entire Caribbean.

The top official, who has been the FAO’s Regional Representative for Latin America and the Caribbean since 2017, took note of the great strides made by Guyana in literacy, with a 98 per cent level nationwide, and hence the use of technology in agriculture, aquaculture and apiculture.

Prime Minister Nagamootoo, who is performing the functions of the office of the President, outlined the ‘green’ agenda of the Coalition Government, and the fiscal rules governing use of anticipated wealth from the petroleum industry. He told the UN official that Guyana is determined to pursue a balanced and mixed economy, with emphasis on food security. He pointed to the potential for apiculture, as he presented his distinguished guest with locally-produced and bottled honey. The prime minister assured Dr. Berdegue that with help from his UN organisation and through partnership with the private sector, Guyana hopes to place emphasis on agro-processing.

The FAO has been supporting agricultural ventures that are linked to the school-feeding programme, under which the Ministry of Education provides fresh, hot meals to a number of schools.

The prime minister explained the revolutionary role of the government in opening radio communication with hinterland regions, and to the communities of Indigenous Peoples. In response, the official readily signaled the FAO’s willingness to partner with Guyana through their Communications for Development Programme, to advance communications in the hinterland regions.

In taking note of the communications infrastructure now in place, the FAO also offered to make available their early warning on drought system, which is aimed at making information available about weather conditions.
Dr. Berdegue was accompanied by the FAO Representative in Guyana, Mrs. Gillian Smith, and Mr. Jefferson Jaikissoon, Programme Associate, FAO Guyana.