The Ministry of Agriculture mourns the passing of Brindley Horatio Benn who was described by his long-time political colleague, Ashton Chase, S.C., as an “educationist from an agricultural background”. Indeed, he was appointed during the administration of the People’s Progressive Party Government of 1957 to 1964, first as Minister of Community Development and then later Minister of Agriculture, Lands and Natural Resources.

An examination of Brindley Benn’s efforts as Minister of Agriculture confirms that the road from conception to completion is indeed very long. For example, the headlines of the early 1960’s include, “Agriculture Department to accelerate the diversification of crops” and “Cassava farmers urged to grow other crops”. Only last week we saw a news item where farmers of the Rupununi are being supported in planting rice and beans.

Mr. Benn’s tenure as Agriculture Minister saw the conceptualisation, design and implementation of land development schemes and drainage and irrigation (D&I) systems. The Black Bush Polder, Boerasirie and Tapakuma schemes come readily to mind. Formerly, there was only one rice crop annually which was grown by rainfall during the May/June rains. With the advent of the D&I systems, two crops could now be grown annually.

The “Green Revolution” had come to Guyana with a plethora of innovations. Sophisticated machines such as tractors, combines and multistage rice mills were introduced. Newer high yielding determinate rice varieties were introduced, and new methods of pest and disease control and fertilising of rice for yield maximisation were taught to farmers.

The new land development schemes, such as the four settlements at Black Bush Polder, also provided farmers a homestead area of two and a half acres each to cultivate other crops in addition to the 15 acres of rice lands.

Farmers were thus able to benefit from year round employment and access to lands was made available to cattle farmers behind the cultivation areas.

Peasant sugar cane farmers thrived during this period through the encouragement of cane cooperatives such as Port Mourant Follow-Up, Letter Kenny.

It was during Mr. Benn’s tenure that the Mon Repos Agriculture complex was initiated and the Guyana School of Agriculture started.

Mr. Benn, as a Parliamentarian, was responsible for the introduction and presentation of several Motions and Bills associated with agriculture such as:

* Pin Seine Regulations under the Fisheries Legislation;

* Assistance to farmers who suffered loss in the 1964 floods;

* Legislation to provide the merging of the North Kline Pouderoyen Drainage Area and the North Kline Pouderoyen (extension) Drainage Areas;

* The Wild Birds Protection Amendment Bill;

* The Rice Assessment Committee (Validation of Acts) Bill.

The Ministry of Agriculture, in reflecting on the life of Brindley Horatio Benn, finds appropriate the following words of David Lilienthal, “Out of the best and most productive years of each man’s life, he should carve a segment in which he puts his private career aside to serve his community and his country, and thereby serves his children, his neighbours, his fellow men, and the cause of freedom”. (GINA)