MINISTER of Agriculture, Mr. Robert Persaud said on Tuesday, that the  sector has taken significant steps in the area of legislative changes during 2010, particularly with the passage of the Guyana Livestock Development Act in January. He said that legislation is part of the revolutionary moves aimed at advancing agriculture and, under it, was established the Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA), to address the effective administration and regulation of the industry.
Persaud said some of the identified deficiencies, which prompted the promulgation include lack of suitable volume of cattle, ineffective sanitary surveillance systems, poor institutional support and outdated legal framework, weak technological awareness and business practices in meeting good manufacturing practices (GMPs) and Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) in the livestock chain and inadequate abattoir facilities.
The new statute provides for the administration and management of the GLDA and its affairs, to exercise all powers and act in accordance with the provisions enlisted in it. 
This body will be empowered to take actions on national and commercial considerations, subject to the directions of the Minister in the discharge of its functions.
With the passage of that law, farmers will benefit from improved services, through the streamlining of crop extension services, plant health and research and consolidation of livestock development programmes.
For 2010, in addition to the establishment of the GLDA, 3,240 units were distributed under the swine multiplication scheme and improved breeds of cattle, sheep and goats were multiplied and disbursed.
To date, the Agriculture Ministry has given out 150 breeding rams and pigs to rearers across the country.
Additionally, 14 agronomists and three veterinarians were added to the system, to further bolster the operations.
Persaud added that, with a vision to, constantly, enhance the sector, several new initiatives have been advanced and, currently, two other bills are before the National Assembly, the Rice Factories (Amendment) Bill and the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) Bill.
The latter is expected to be debated today and he said the other will engage the House in 2011, after stakeholders get adequate opportunity to review it.
The Rice Factories (Amendment) Bill, which had its first reading in July, is intended to ensure that millers pay every farmer 95 per cent of debt due as a prerequisite to receiving a licence and the payment must be made within 42 days of supply.
The NAREI Bill is to provide greater efficiency in the crops and agricultural products industry and better services in research, extension and crop protection.