IT is not surprising that Peeping Tom has once again jumped on the bandwagon to create a sense of instability and uncertainty within our country, in particularly the agriculture sector and the recent publication of evidently flawed data.
The Guyana Agriculture Producers’ Association (GAPA) and other crop farmers take umbrage at the comments and insinuations of Mr. Kenrick Hunte’s letter and the Kaieteur News’ Peeping Tom column. The other crop farmers in this country are hardworking and ingenious in their endeavour to provide affordable food to the very likes of Mr. Hunte and Peeping Tom who seems to be very ungrateful. Farmers have expressed their disgust at some of the comments made regarding the sector, but will not be deterred in their efforts to maintain Guyana’s Food Security.
The critics seem to have forgotten the reasons for the launching of the Grow More Food Campaign which was an initiative and proactive measure to combat the global food and financial crisis.. Today, Guyana is unaffected by the global food crisis, testimony to the continuous increase in production and resilience of our land tillers, the farmers.
GAPA with support from the Ministry of Agriculture has been working continuously with farmers across this country to provide training, technical assistance, planting materials and other support to encourage farmers to produce more for our sustenance and to benefit from the opportunities derived from the global food crisis through exports.
Peeping Tom and the other critics are grossly underestimating the strengthening of our farmers and the agriculture sector. Peeping Tom alluded to the lack of manpower which is just a figment of his imagination as GAPA and other agencies within the Ministry of Agriculture have been mobilising and working in farming communities and there has been a marked difference. However, Mr. Peeping Tom like Mr. Hunte chose not to recognise the improvements within the sector. Hence, we would be willing to accommodate them during our visits to farming communities to have a firsthand assessment – seeing is believing.
Further, the Grow More Food Campaign is a continuous initiative to give farmers the necessary boost and support for continued cultivation and expansion. I dare challenge the critics to investigate the amount of new lands that were brought under cultivation which was accompanied by necessary infrastructure development and services.
Global agriculture is facing many challenges and GAPA is committed to working with other crop farmers and other interested stakeholders to persevere and deliver wholesome and affordable food to the Guyanese public and further afield.
NANDLALL STEVE MANGAL
National Coordinator
Guyana Agricultural Producers’ Association (GAPA)
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