Where research advances in developed countries are not accessible…
Agriculture Minister, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy delivering the feature address at the opening of Guyana’s first agriculture research conference
Agriculture Minister, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy delivering the feature address at the opening of Guyana’s first agriculture research conference

Agri-research will support development of tools for local farmers
– …National agriculture research agenda to be completed by year-end

AGRICULTURAL research advances made by developing countries have not been made accessible to developing countries, placing farmers in developing countries, as well as those countries, at a disadvantage.

FAO’s Plant Production and Protection officer, Dr. Vyjayanthi Lopez, making remarks yesterday
FAO’s Plant Production and Protection officer, Dr. Vyjayanthi Lopez, making remarks yesterday

However, Guyana will not depend on these countries for support, but will chart its own course in the research arena.
These were the sentiments expressed by Agriculture Minister, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy yesterday at the opening of Guyana’s first agriculture research conference, a three-day activity, being held at the Guyana International Conference Centre (GICC) under the theme ‘Consolidating Food and Nutrition Security in the Region – Increasing Economy Opportunities and Entrepreneurship for Rice and other agriculture’.

Dr. Ramsammy said, “Farmers in countries are disadvantaged by a global legal framework that keeps developed countries’ farmers on the top of a ladder and binds farmers from developing countries to stay at the bottom.
“…research could change this dispensation, because if we cannot get access to the improved tools that result from agricultural research in the developed world, let us develop those tools in developing countries, and for that to happen, we must invest.”
He disclosed too that before the end of the year, the agriculture research conference, among other influences, will inform a national agriculture research agenda that will be made public.

“Farmers in countries are disadvantaged by a global legal framework that keeps developed countries’ farmers on the top of a ladder and binds farmers from developing countries to stay at the bottom.” — Agriculture Minister, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy

INVESTMENTS TO ADDRESS CHALLENGES
According to him, the investments being made in this area by the current Administration evidences its commitment to the agriculture sector – an investment that has resulted in improved production, food and nutrition security.
“The global governance mechanism that neglects research does so at its own peril…Guyana stands ready to take on the challenges of agriculture production,” he said.
The Minister highlighted that there is a huge gap when comparing investments in agricultural research and research in other areas – a gap that should not be present, since it is agriculture that feeds the world.

He noted that Guyana’s first agriculture research conference is a way of advocating for research in Guyana, the Caribbean, and in countries around the world.
Dr. Ramsammy added there are still challenges in the sector and research must address these, including:
* the challenges of mechanism, as it relates to the carbon output and the energy cost of production;
* a move to ensure that the available arable land is not degraded;
* adaptation and mitigation of climate change;
* addressing the non-food agricultural produce in terms of value added products; and
* development of agri-fuel;
“These are questions that we must answer through research,” he said, adding that there are undoubtedly opportunities for research advances in Guyana.
He stressed that farmers must maximise on each investment in agriculture to: increase yield; understand and know cost of production and maximise profitability; use mechanisation, reduce intensive labour, but also create additional employment for technical inputs; and maintain a focus on environmentally friendly practices.

“…research could change this dispensation (local farmers being disadvantaged), because if we cannot get access to the improved tools that result from agricultural research in the developed world, let us develop those tools in developing countries and for that to happen we must invest.” — Agriculture Minister, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy

CALL ON STAKEHOLDERS
To this end, he lauded the efforts to date by the Burma Rice Research Station, the Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA), National Agriculture Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) and other agencies.
Dr. Ramsammy also called on the University of Guyana, the Guyana School of Agriculture and the Sash Sawh Aquaculture Station to party with the relevant agencies to assist in the development of an active rice research programme that will: provide answers to the challenges of the day; maximise on the benefits of investments in agricultural research; and build on the opportunities that will be made available by such an undertaking.
Additionally, these efforts will bolster the goals included in the Agriculture Strategy 2013-2020, based on the F-5 Strategic Approach for Agriculture. The F-5 Strategic Approach is as follows:
* Food Security – Consolidating the end of hunger in Guyana, ensuring everyone has enough food in every community;

Students from the Guyana School of Agriculture (GSA) at yesterday’s session
Students from the Guyana School of Agriculture (GSA) at yesterday’s session

* Fiber and Nutritious Food Accessible by citizens – Nutrition Security for All;
* Fuel Production – helping to develop alternative fuel sources, reducing dependency on fossil fuel and creating a Bio-Energy industry in Guyana;
* Fashion and Health Products – An agro-processed industry which creates a new industry in Guyana; and
* Furniture and Crafts – An industry which we expect to grow in importance in Guyana.
Guyana’s Vision for Agriculture 2020 seeks to change the view that agriculture is for subsistence livelihood, while it also seeks to promote agriculture as a wealth generator and entrepreneurial enterprise, producing food and non-food commodities to meet local and export demands.

EAT LOCAL
The Minister also used the opportunity to plug the Ministry’s ‘Eat What We Produce’ campaign.
The aim of the campaign is to promote a permanent behavioural change in Guyana, which will see Guyanese eating only what is produced locally and expanding the country’s unique Guyanese hospitality to include feeding guests what is grown and produced in Guyana.
According to him, agricultural research in Guyana will aid in the success of this programme, since Guyana’s massive food import bill can be reduced when the foods imported are replaced by locally grown produce.
Already there are efforts afoot to provide carrots, beets, onions, garlic and corn, among other agricultural produce imported.
“Guyana’s farmers can produce safe, high quality, nutritious foods at a price that is competitive with that of the foods we import….it is a viable option for our people,” he said.
Dr. Ramsammy also mentioned the spin-off benefits of ‘going local’, particularly as it relates to job creation, support for local farmers and entrepreneurs in the agriculture sector.
“Agriculture is the number development story of Guyana,” he said, adding that Guyana is an “agriculture country” when one considers that almost 20 per cent of the economy is related to agricultural activities, as well as the fact that the sector brings in significant export earnings for the country.
He stated too that decades ago, investment in the sector was a mere US$5 per capita, whereas under the current Administration, it has increased to US$100 per capita in 2014. As part of Government’s ongoing efforts to sustain the gains made towards the diversification of the sector, a total of $829.4M was expended in the agriculture sector in the first half of the year, from a budget allocation of $1.5B.
“Going forward, agriculture will continue to lead the way…we cannot underestimate the value of agriculture…we must invest in agriculture as a public good…agriculture in 2020 must be different than in 2014,” the Agriculture Minister concluded.
Also making remarks was the Plant Production and Protection Officer with the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), Dr. Vyjayanthi Lopez, who lauded the successes in the local agriculture sector and the attainment of 2020 goals, years ahead of the deadline.

PRESENTATIONS
Additionally, a number of presentations are expected to be made during the three-day activity, addressing:
* the growth and development of the rice industry in Guyana;
* the status and prospects for Guyana’s non-traditional exports;
* strategies for successful livestock rearing on man-made lowlands, under climate change threats;
* extensions’ contribution to rice improvement in Guyana;
* macro-propagation of plantain, using the stem fragment technique;
* the role of Bio-available Nutrition (BAN) in sustainable organic agriculture;
* the role of research and technology in enhancing family farms in Guyana;
* the use of DSSAT to evaluate the potential effects of climate change on rice production in Guyana; and
* anti-microbial activity in the sector, among many others.
Field visits are also planned for day three to NAREI, GLDA and the Burma Rice Research Station.
Present at yesterday’s opening were sector stakeholders, students from GSA, representatives from United Nations’ groups and members of the diplomatic corps.
The agriculture research conference is expected to be an annual feature that forms part of the Agriculture Month activities.

(By Vanessa Narine)

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