The Jagdeo Initiative…
– Minister Persaud
Guyana has made significant strides in an effort to correct the many deficiencies standing in the way of the agriculture sector’s development to full potential so that it could take its rightful place as the Caribbean seeks to reduce its high food import bill. This it has been doing through investments and policy changes in various sectors of agricultural development.
Studies done in the early 2000s revealed that the agricultural sector in the region though, has been plagued by many obstacles to development. These are:
1. Limited financing and inadequate new investments;
2. Outdated and inefficient agricultural health and food safety systems;
3. Inadequate research and development;
4. A fragmented and unorganised private sector;
5. Inefficient land and water distribution management systems;
6. Deficient and uncoordinated risk management measures;
7. Inadequate transportation systems, particularly for agricultural products;
8. Market infrastructure, including market information and market linkages;
9. Lack of skilled and quality human resources in agriculture.
The Guyana Chronicle solicited an update on Guyana’s efforts at ensuring development of the sector from Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud.

According to Minister Persaud, President Bharrat Jagdeo’s articulation of these constraints and his proposed plan of action were given the official title Jagdeo Initiative – Strengthening Agriculture for Sustainable Development.

In June 2007, Heads of Government in the region made a commitment to strive for the implementation of the Jagdeo Initiative within an 18- month time frame. This has not yet been achieved and once again food prices are climbing to the levels they were during 2008, causing a renewed focus on the issue of agriculture competitiveness and food security.

1. Limited financing and inadequate new investments
In addressing the first constraint, Guyana, with the help of donor agencies, has invested more than US$215M into ensuring the development of its agricultural sector through projects such as the Rural Enterprise and Agricultural Development Programme, Conservancy Adaptation Project, and the ASSP.

“There has also been major investment in the further development of the sugar industry. Notably, efforts at cogeneration have proven fruitful. Through an EU grant project, the government has been able to set up a large-scale packaging plant for sugar,” the minister said.

He noted that the Agriculture Sector Loan programme which was developed in the 1990s was designed to encourage a conducive investment environment. “Through this programme, the Land and Survey Commission, National Drainage and Irrigation Association and the Pesticides and Toxic Chemical Board became semi-autonomous agencies. These three agencies served as pillars in the development of a strategic plan for the fostering for both foreign and local investment,” he said.

2. Outdated and inefficient agricultural health and food safety systems
Persaud noted that the second constraint identified openly criticises the agricultural health and food safety systems in the region. He noted too that issues of health are of paramount concern to the peoples within and outside of the Caribbean.

“Distrust of the region’s produce will only further burden the sector in its attempt to seek markets in and out of the region. But even with the concerns of the international community plaguing the sector, Caricom governments have not made significant strides in harnessing this problem, not at the national nor regional levels. The region’s agricultural health and food safety system continues to grapple with a disjointed legal infrastructure and a retarded monitoring and enforcement strategy,” he said.

Persaud said that the establishment therefore of a Caribbean Agricultural Health and Food Safety Agency (CAHFSA) is crucial to the alleviation of the issues addressed in the foregoing.

“In Guyana, issues of health safety have been given greater precedence. The Government of Guyana, under the Agricultural Export Diversification Project, has an Agricultural Health and Food Safety Component through which legislation will be drafted and updated,” he said.

He said further that the creation of semi- autonomous Plant Services and Animal Services Agencies has resulted in upgraded services to farmers to enhance Guyana’s ability to export and access regional and international markets. Procurement activities for the rehabilitation of the veterinary diagnostic and genetic laboratories are in progress. Rehabilitation of the Bio-Control Lab is being undertaken.

Guyana has also signed on to the agreement of establishing the Caribbean Agricultural Health and Food Agency (CAHFSA), he said.

3. Inadequate research and development
“The Caribbean has recognised that development in agriculture must be driven by technological advancement. The use of grain and sugar for the fuel industry is an excellent example of technology shaping the direction of the agriculture sector,” the Minister pointed out.

He noted that in this regard, Guyana is providing enhanced extension service to farmers; the Guyana Livestock Development Authority has been created, and is expected to continue recent efforts in improving the genetic material of livestock such as cattle, pigs, small ruminants, ducks, etc. The minister also noted that work has also been completed on the incorporation of Crop Extension Services and Plant Health Services into NAREI.

He said Guyana and Suriname have inked a Memorandum of Understanding that will enable them to share and develop research on rice. He said also that a Memorandum of Understanding was also signed between the British Texel Sheep Society and NAREI to introduce the Texel breed of sheep into Guyana.

“Guyana has cooperation ties with countries such as Brazil, Chile, Colombia and India, that will promote research in non-traditional areas such as cashew, cassava, soya, peanuts and spices.
Consultancy for design and supervision of the rehab of NARI E Seed & Germplasm Labs was awarded and this activity is in progress,” he said.

He noted that the construction of a Rice Seed Facility has also commenced and procurement for equipment and laboratory facilities are in progress; this will assist in the rice research programme.

“Guyana has also benefitted significantly from its association with the Latin America Rice Research System. This association has seen the local development of new varieties of rice which may be able to withstand much of the changes that have come as a result of erratic weather condition,” he said.

In addition, Guyana has re-established its ties with the Caribbean Agriculture Research Development Institute, CARDI.

4. A fragmented and unorganised private sector
Minister Persaud pointed out that the fourth constraint and the first constraint are intricately linked, and that the direction of the sector can only be plotted if there is collaboration between the government and the private sector in a manner that is deliberate and coordinated.

“In Guyana, there have been moves in the direction of organizing the private sector. The Private Sector Commission, as well as organizations such as the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association, and Go-Invest, have all played a pivotal role in facilitating the development of agriculture,” said the Minister.

According to the minister, his ministry has also been working hand in hand with all the various agriculture related associations such as the Cattle Farmers Association, Rice Producers Association, Poultry Producers Association, and the Pork Producers Association. “By working with these groups, the Ministry of Agriculture can undertake, when necessary, quick interventions to stem events that could prove to be devastating to the livelihood of people within these groups,” he said.

5. Inefficient land and water distribution management systems
Guyana, Persaud said, is currently pursuing a very aggressive land lease programme, which has resulted in some cross-border investments. He said that the 50-year agriculture lease facility, which has inherent free-holder like properties, has also been extremely beneficial to both large and small-scale farmers.

On water distribution systems, he said Guyana is continuing to rehabilitate D&I structures and, in some cases, constructing new structures and also rehabilitating and putting in place new pumps countrywide to have improved water management. “Notably, the construction of the new conservancy in Skeldon, covering over 700sq miles, will supply the new cane fields for the Skeldon Sugar Factory,” the minister pointed out.

The establishment of the Water Users Associations (WUA) across the country will help to maintain and operate secondary and tertiary level D&I systems and a team of MOA officials are engaging the WUAs in discussion on improvement of their performance, the minister said.

6.  Deficient and uncoordinated risk management measures
The minister said in December 2009, there was a symposium on Agriculture Risk Management held in Guyana with the focus on insurance. “A World Bank mission undertook a pre-feasibility study in March, 2010, and a draft report was shared with government in May. Presently, government is looking to secure funding for the feasibility stage,” the Minister said.

Persaud said Guyana is anxious to have agricultural insurance products developed for better management of catastrophic risks, particularly flooding. “In this regard, significant strides have been made in the development of an agriculture insurance proposal,” he said.

“It is hoped that with the setting up of the network of Doppler radars, more accurate weather forecasting and effective warning systems can be developed. The National Weather Watch Centre at Hyde Park, Timehri, was commissioned, which encompasses the Doppler Weather Radar Monitoring Station, Weather Forecasting /Aviation Meteorology Section and Hydro meteorological Museum,” he pointed out.

7. Inadequate transportation systems, particularly for agricultural products
According to the minister, Guyana is making efforts to provide access to hinterland areas to allow  the movement of inputs and products. “Farm to market access roads continue to be maintained and new products for surfacing roads are being tested. [A sum of] $2B will be spent on developing road access in the hinterland, as government continues to make investments for improving the lives of people in the hinterland,” he said.

He also spoke of works in the pipeline for more roads and bridges, and mentioned that the Ogle Airport will soon facilitate regional flights which would create more options for transport.

The year 2011 is likely to see the introduction of a more effective ferry service in the Essequibo River, not only for passengers, but also for agriculture produce, he said. He added that Guyana has benefitted from the recent introduction of a cargo service offered by LIAT Airlines. “This weekly service was developed given the recent upsurge in demand for the export of non- traditional produce such as fresh fruits and vegetables and frozen commodities,” said the minister.

“In sum, the alleviation of this constraint will dramatically improve the effectiveness of the agriculture sector and the overall efficiency of all the interlinking industries. Hence, a strategy encompassing all the concerns of the diverse industry, which includes transport consideration for not only farming equipment, but livestock, fresh fruits, vegetables, and meats, must be undertaken,” he said.

8. Market infrastructure, including market information and market linkages
Without the exchange of information, the spread of new innovations and modern technologies will be limited, said the minister.

“In this regard, Guyana had benefitted from associating with National Agricultural and Marketing Development Corporation (NAMDEVCO) of Trinidad and Tobago in developing an appropriate market information system. The existing rudimentary system is expected to benefit from training and will support and be supported by the New Guyana Marketing Corporation. There is some financing available for the start-up,” he said.

9. Lack of skilled and quality human resources in agriculture
Minister Persaud said that to ensure development in the agriculture sector, Guyana has sought to increase its intellectual base. “The tertiary agricultural institutions continue to strive for more relevant programmes. The Guyana School of Agriculture has introduced a fisheries programme and has taken its classrooms into the rural districts. The Ministry of Agriculture signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the University of Guyana and McGill University, which will pave the way for engineers to read for a Post Graduate Certificate in Water Resource Management,” he said.

In 2010, he said, a batch of 24 engineers commenced training with 15 persons being drawn from the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority, the Guyana Sugar Corporation and Mahaica Mahaicony Abary/Agriculture Development Authority. The programme entailed hydrology and water resources management, drainage and irrigation, hydraulic structures and geotechnical investigation courses, among others, he said.

The minister said that a number of students have also been sent on scholarships to Cuba to pursue studies in agronomy, veterinary science, engineering and livestock production.