I absorbed and truly cherished the news that Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Robert Persaud, on Thursday, August 25 received five special pieces of reconditioned heavy duty machinery. These pieces of equipment are to aid with ongoing works in the drainage and irrigation sector and for the rehabilitation of ‘farm to market roads.’ The actual heavy duty vehicles are two excavators and three bulldozers. These were purchased from Farm Supplies Limited, GUYTRAC, and Machinery Corporation of Guyana (MACORP). The cost amounts to some $300 million. Imagine! Now why do I highlight this? I have a very simple, yet profound answer.
First, farming in Guyana should be of paramount importance, which it is. Both the weather and the land mass suggest that Guyanese should be thus engaged. If the ‘step-up’ can be successful, and the ‘agri-fever/drive’ is contagious, then Guyana is destined for self-sufficiency and food security. Currently, a lot of people are wasting time, demeaning ‘agrarian communities ‘and lamenting their bad estates in life. So on reading the good news, I instantly experienced a happy jolting. Just look at what Minister Robert Persaud has in mind in terms of a vision for Guyana.
The Honourable Minister declared that government is seriously investing in the Agriculture Sector because it is far more economical for government to own equipment, instead of renting them. Mr. Persaud was referring to a long term plan. I surmised that this means more efficiency in deployment and better preparedness in responding to emergencies. This also has the added benefit of money being saved. After all, the pieces of equipment pay back for themselves in approximately six months. I know that many local contractors will feel jaded, but they too have to see the long term picture and the national viewpoint.
I said at the onset, that agriculture is of great importance, and therefore the investment in this sector must be prioritised.  There is a need to invest and develop large land masses for farmlands, since the farmers need to deal with the realities of climate change and embrace modern technology, thus enabling them to maximize on production. Already in Guyana people are complaining about the high prices of some of the local produce. This kind of input from government will be a step forward in addressing this concern. So I reiterate my good feeling about this whole operation. However, I do have a caution.
Many times, since the pieces of equipment are not personally owned, there is a tendency to lag in care and maintenance. I notice daily that many minibuses are ‘being run down’ and one of the obvious reasons is that they are not being operated by the owners. So my desire is that a collective mindset be formed in the farmers. These necessary, expensive pieces of equipment are to be cared for as if they were personally owned. Farmers need to cherish them, and appreciate the hard work of Minister Persaud. If this appreciation is shown, care taken, and hard work be put in, Guyana will have more than enough when it comes to food.