– takes up post at Guyana’s first FAO office
NEWLY appointed Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) representative, Dr. Lystra Fletcher-Paul who is taking up her post at Guyana’s first FAO office on Thursday vowed to be steadfast in assisting Guyana’s agriculture sector.

Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud shares a light moment with FAO Representative Dr Lystra Fletcher-Paul.

During a courtesy call on Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud, at the Minister’s office, she said the FAO will be able to provide technical assistance through different types of programmes.

According to Dr. Fletcher-Paul, the FAO has the ability to provide consultants to aid Guyana in specific areas if necessary, and help the country mobilise additional resources. She also said the FAO has access to experts from all over the world which could assist Guyana greatly.

“I look forward to working here in Guyana, as you know, I’m a Caribbean woman and I’m passionate about agriculture in the region. I see FAO as a partner, not as a lead agency. This is all about helping Guyana to promote agriculture development” the representative said.

In addition to Guyana, Dr. Fletcher-Paul said the FAO would be able to play a pivotal role in the entire region.

Minister Persaud pointed out that due to the increasing importance of agriculture, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed with the FAO for establishing an office in Guyana.

The MOU was signed by Minister Persaud and FAO’s Director-General, Dr. Jacques Diouf during the 34th Session of FAO Conference in Rome, Italy, from November 22 to 28, 2007.

The Minister said Guyana requested that the FAO lend support within the context of the Jagdeo Initiative on Agriculture.

According to him, a number of initiatives were undertaken with the support of FAO and they will be pursuing a number of others which should be more dynamic with this new collaboration.

“I look forward to a constructive working arrangement…An FAO office in Guyana is long overdue,” Minister Persaud stated.

The FAO has provided assistance to Guyana in the past. This newspaper understands that with assistance from the FAO, a rice-fish programme was implemented in 2004/2005 to integrate aquaculture into rice cultivation to enable farmers to earn more and reduce the use of fertilisers.

Additionally, the Mon Repos Aquaculture Demonstration Station was constructed with support from several international agencies including the FAO as part of efforts to stimulate development of the emerging sector by providing necessary training and technical assistance.
The FAO is a body of the United Nations.