For greater benefits…
CARIBBEAN Farmers’ Network (CaFAN) Chief Coordinator, Mr. Jethro Green yesterday emphasised that the future of agriculture depends on the unity of farmers.

Minister Robert Persaud speaks to the gathering of farmers and farmers representatives. (Sonnel Nelson photo)

Speaking at a one-day stakeholders meeting, convened in the Ministry of Agriculture Regent and Vlissengen Roads boardroom in Georgetown, he posited that, for farmers to achieve any desired level of progress, they must work together.

CaFAN, which was founded by the Rice Producers Association (RPA), with assistance from several other longstanding farmers’ representative bodies in the region, wants to include non-rice producers in its elaborate network.

Green told the participants, among them from farmers groups countrywide and New Guyana Marketing Corporation (NGMC) officials, that the aim of CaFAN is to help farmers make a decent living and function as real businesspersons.

He said the goal is also to get farmers to be owners of the production chain, so that they can enjoy the full benefit of their hard labour.

According to him, another CaFAN objective here is to get non-traditional crops planters properly organised to supply lucrative overseas markets.

Green observed that Guyana has the ideal conditions to become the lead food producer in the region and serve as a model agricultural nation to sister CARICOM States.

Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud supported the unity call, and agreed that the way forward is for farmers to work together and said movement in this direction is in keeping with his ministry’s vision to convert small farmers to commercial entrepreneurs.

“Small farmers should think big and should strive to understand the importance of networking. This is a challenge here. If they don’t, they will be missing out on vital opportunities,” Persaud told the gathering.

He said, for the very reason of getting non-traditional crops farmers more organised, Guyana Agriculture Producers Association (GAPA) was resuscitated with the renewed focus of helping them, including those with small scale cultivations, to fully access available market opportunities and more benefits.

Persaud said small farmers here have not been neglected, pointing out that many are part and parcel of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) multi-million dollar Agriculture Export Diversification Programme (AEDP).

He said the AEDP will accelerate next year and farmers will benefit from more direct support through it.

Persaud said this and other support to farmers will give them the leverage to access foreign markets but, for them to be fully beneficial, they will have to change their old approach to the business.

RPA General Secretary, Mr. Dharamkumar Seeraj urged that local farmers, in partnership with CaFAN, should focus on the establishment of markets and the reliability of quality supply to remain a competitive force.

He said GAPA will be working with CaFAN in this regard.

United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) local representative, Mrs. Lystra Fletcher-Paul said the time for talk is over and advocated for more action on the ground to keep the wheels of production going.