OUR beautiful country is endowed with many resources. While development is ongoing, I am of the firm belief that if more emphasis is placed on agriculture we can become a very viable nation. Agriculture is the springboard for development. This blessed country has an abundance of fertile soil and numerous waterways. With these two precious resources it is invariable that we can grow our own food. However, in spite of the numerous benefits of agriculture, I categorically feel that much more needs to be done.

Firstly, we need to educate all and sundry about agriculture. The government of the day needs to instil in its people that there is dignity in agriculture.  This process needs to commence in all educational institutions from nursery to tertiary. Agriculture must be a separate subject in all primary schools. In secondary schools, agriculture should be included in the core Subjects- Maths, English, Social Studies, Science and Agriculture.

In all the streams in secondary schools agriculture must be compulsory like Mathematics and English. Also, in all the faculties at university, students must be made to do agriculture in certain semesters. The same must be for CPCE teachers.

Also on all the television channels there must be at least a half-hour programme every day on agriculture. Programmes must edify the citizens how to prepare, care, reap, and rotate crops etc.

I am saying all this because our education system is spawning a mountainous number of academics. Soon we will not be able to absorb these qualified persons and they will have to use their degrees, to put in local parlance as begging bowls.

However, if the required knowledge and importance of agriculture are taught to our young people they would happily go to the soil and create self employment. Foods will be cheaper in our country and much foreign exchange will be gained. This will reduce praedial larceny and every inch of our country will be gainfully utilized. With Government’s subsidies, young people will be encouraged to do agriculture which is the vertebral column for our country’s development.

Food is short in many countries. Famine is imminent. Guyana is virtually free from the many catastrophes. Our population is small in relation to our country’s size. We need to transform our waste lands into arable areas. In order to do this I wish to reiterate that we have to start with our young minds and illuminate the awareness of the endless importance of agriculture . Let us all take heed  of this little Quote

“ If all the Earth were paper
And if all the seas were ink
And if all the trees were numbers
what would you and I have to eat? “