I WOULD like to commend the efforts of the Ministry of Agriculture, particularly farmers and other stakeholders, for ensuring Guyana is recognized as a food secure nation; hats off to all in the agriculture sector. As a show of Guyana’s food-secure status, the recent harvesting of paddy and ongoing beans project at Moco Moco in Region Nine is timely, as it highlights Guyana’s aggressive agriculture sector, led by the Minister of Agriculture to ensure food is accessible to all Guyanese, despite food shortages that are evident in many countries.

I am sure that this project will greatly empower our Amerindian brothers and sisters of Region Nine, rather than have them depend on supplies from the coastland. Additionally, it is hoped that this is the first of many breakthrough initiatives that are yet to come from the Agriculture Ministry and the government to support and sustain hinterland food security.

It is anticipated that this successful effort will be replicated in other hinterland regions to reduce the high cost of trucking in food to these locations. This effort by the Ministry of Agriculture will also result in the Amerindian people becoming self sufficient in food production in a sustainable manner.

Meanwhile, the harvesting was also more fitting as we observe Amerindian Heritage Month. Once again congratulations to the Ministry of Agriculture and famers for facing the many challenges resulting in Guyana being branded by the FAO of the United Nations as a food secure nation.