AGRICULTURE has been and will remain the backbone of the Guyana economy for a long time. Advances already made and others underway are certain to pay more dividends for the country with another spectre of rising food prices in the world.
It is regrettable that the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) as a whole has not been more supportive of the laudable ‘Jagdeo Initiative’ under which President Bharrat Jagdeo has community responsibility for agriculture.
Some other member countries showed some alacrity towards developing and expanding agriculture in the region with the advent of the last global food prices crisis but became lukewarm when it subsided.
Thankfully, Guyana has stayed its course on agriculture and is aggressively pursuing the agricultural drive to diversify and increase production and productivity.
So far, despite the global financial difficulties and adverse weather patterns, Guyana has been successful in realizing increased production and productivity due to the emphasis on improved drainage and irrigation, scientific research and application of improved agricultural technology.
This government and previous administrations led by the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) have always paid a special focus on agriculture because they have recognized that agriculture is the bedrock of this country’s future economic advancement.
It was not surprising therefore that in this year’s national budget there is continued emphasis on the agricultural sector with many laudable initiatives.
According to Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud, with the $9.1 billion 2011 allocation, the sector is now poised to further expand services to farmers, rural farming communities and other stakeholders.
And in this regard, several major initiatives have been identified, including:
** construction of a genetic bank for the Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA);
** rehabilitation of the germ-plasm laboratory at the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI);
** rehabilitation of quarantine stations, control structures and access roads at Canal Polder on the West Bank Demerara;
** purchase of field inspection and laboratory equipment, and
** the commencement of construction of an abattoir.
The minister indicated that with the expansion of agricultural lands and greater demand for new areas for cultivation, more pumps, construction and rehabilitation of key drainage and irrigation (D&I) structures and access roads, improvement in the discharge capacity and flood control performance in farming and vulnerable areas have all become necessary.
A major project – the construction of the Hope Canal which deals with the critical issue of flooding in the Mahaica/Mahaicony communities and adjoining areas – will also be advanced this year. This of course will be a great relief for farmers and a boost for the agriculture sector and the national economy as a whole.
There is no doubt that agricultural investments in Guyana will continue to pay rich dividends while ensuring food security for Guyanese, the region and even further afield.