Towards agriculture diversification…
THE Agriculture Ministry, in its continuing strive to strengthen the capacity of partner agencies, yesterday handed over pieces of equipment to the Veterinary Public Health Department.
It was the second donation in a $30M project under the Agriculture Diversification Programme (ADP), which previously donated $18M in supplies to the Food and Drugs Analyst Department of the Health Ministry.
Yesterday’s contribution included furniture, laboratory and field testing paraphernalia, to promote standards and quality of agricultural produce and support the modernisation and enhancement of recipient department.
In that way, Guyana’s products are expected to secure more leverage on targeted export markets, said ADP Cluster Manager, Mr. Jimmy Bhojedat,
At the handing over, which he facilitated, he said, through the ADP, steps are being taken to ensure that local produce from a continually diversifying agriculture sector meet the standards of the international markets.
“The Agriculture Ministry is aiming to improve capacity to ensure that the job is done,” he said, referring to food certification standards.
Director of the Veterinary Public Health Department, Dr. Colin Simon expressed appreciation for the assistance and recognition of the importance of partnerships.
He said the aid suits the purpose of improving performance and bolstering the Food Safety Programme.
The Agriculture Health and Food Safety component of the ADP, the Health Ministry, which has direct responsibility, is expected to help the local entrepreneurs produce safer foods, increase public awareness of safe food handling and processing techniques and minimise the incidence and economic impact of outbreaks of food-borne illnesses.
STRATEGY

The Agriculture Ministry’s food safety strategy is based on the concept of ‘Farm-to-Table’ and the Health and Food Safety component is mandated to:
* promote the participation and fulfillment of existing obligations by the Administration, as well as those that will be acquired with the Caribbean Community/Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CARICOM/CSME) that are related to regulations, diagnostic and control laboratories, vigilance and surveillance systems;
* establish an integrated tracking system that will facilitate both inspection and advice to growers, processors and packers on international standards, including Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP);
* consolidate the activities of the inspection and quarantine system at airports and frontier points among agencies and
* reinforce the laboratory capacity of the Food and Drugs Department towards its accreditation by international food safety agencies, through the acquisition of equipment and supplies to modernise laboratories that support the sanitary and food safety demand for analysis and diagnosis.
The ADP is being funded by the Inter-American Development Bank at cost of US$21.9M, with US$1.1M counterpart funding from the Government of Guyana.
It aims at increasing exports of non-traditional agricultural commodities and seeks to establish services and institutions for a sustainable increase in the income derived from exporting in the aquaculture, fruits and vegetables and livestock sub-sectors.