-farmers urged to diversify
The Government has over the years been transforming the country’s landscape to withstand the effects of the changing weather patterns. Improving key drainage and irrigation systems continues to be a top priority in this transformation.
Residents of Mahaicony Creek were yesterday given the opportunity to voice their concerns and make recommendations about issues affecting their livelihood to Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud. The Minister was accompanied by technical officials from the Ministry, representatives of the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB), Region Five Chairman Harrinarine Baldeo, and Chairman of Mahaica, Mahaicony and Abary Agricultural Development Authority Rudolph Gajraj.
The interactive session saw issues being addressed that relate to the rehabilitation of an access dam, excavation of draining structures and medical personnel to man the Mora Point health centre.
Minister Persaud, in his remarks, said that the meeting was to update farmers about Government’s plan to manage the country’s water systems and to ensure that they remain functional, in agricultural and residential areas, since the country is currently moving from an El Nino to a La Nina situation.
“Giving what’s happening globally with climate change, we see that we are moving into very extreme weather conditions now. All our systems have been on alert and in fact we have to do our utmost to prevent any disaster-like situation. Those of you reading the news would see what is happening in Pakistan and T&T, where the countries have experienced the worst floods in their known history,” he said.
The Hydrometeorological Office has predicted that in August the country will experience 40 percent above normal rainfall, hence conservancies, kokers, sluices, and major water ways are being closely monitored across the country.
In line with this, he used the opportunity to advise all citizens, especially those in low lying areas, that the country would be entering into a very rainy phase, and therefore farmers should be climate alert.
La Nina is an extreme phase of a naturally occurring climate cycle, oftentimes referred to as large-scale changes in sea-surface temperature across the tropical pacific.
Minister Persaud emphasised that all Government agencies involved in water management have since been on a high state of alert, since the December/January rainy season is often times more active compared to mid-year rains.
Citing the need for more to be done, he said that with resources available, the Administration is looking at infrastructure and interventions to effectively deal with the changing weather pattern.
However, he indicated that notwithstanding the unpredictability of the weather pattern, the Ministry will continue to do all in its power to ensure that farming and other activities are protected.
In anticipation of a weather pattern that may become more extreme, Government is continuing to invest in infrastructure.
“We are highly dependent on agriculture, which is highly sensitive to weather; and that means, and I want to tell the critics out there, that if they are serious about development, people’s welfare, they have to also give their support because we have to diversify our economy and look at new sources in term of economic wealth and opportunities,” he added.
Rice cultivation
As part of Government’s renewed thrust to modernise the agriculture sector, Minister Persaud said that despite the El Nino weather conditions being experienced, rice production for the first crop was recorded to be higher than the first crop of last year, and he noted that farmers should be congratulated for their effort.
He noted that globally it is predicted that there will be a food shortage and as such local farmers can take advantage of the opportunity which will see grain prices, including rice, increasing.
While speaking on the issue of farmers being owed by the Mahaicony Rice Mill, the Minister said that Government will continue to maintain its objective of ensuring that farmers are not ripped off by millers and exporters, and he urged millers to desist from such acts.
“We have put the laws in place to protect farmers, but the laws are nothing if they are not used. Those farmers who have outstanding issues, we will provide free legal advice for them,” he stressed.
The GRDB and the Guyana Rice Producers Association have since been ensuring that laws put in place to govern the rights of rice farmers
are adhered to by millers.
Livestock
As the agriculture sector continues to diversify to include non-traditional crops and to focus on aquaculture, significant emphasis is being placed on expansion of the livestock sector, and according to Minister Persaud, this will see shortly the inauguration of the Guyana Livestock Development Authority.
Under the Agricultural Diversification project, significant amounts of resources are being spent to develop genetic stock and build a state-of-the-art lab and a new abattoir.
Government has since been in talks with its Suriname counterpart, according to Minister Persaud, to partner with Guyana to source beef and small ruminants.
“Suriname has only about 45,000 head of cattle, but yet their annual demand is close to 35-40,000; so in one year they could consume all the cattle that they have and the abattoir that they built, they only use it to about 10-15 percent capacity. We have a larger capacity and we have been investing and we will do much more,” he said.