Increasing production and productivity is a primary motive of farmers, but perhaps equally important and challenging is finding markets and getting their produce to those markets in a timely manner so that they are fresh and wholesome, particularly with respect to the export markets which is a huge business today because of the global increase in demand for food, both in terms of quantity and variety.
According to recent FAO figures, Spain is the biggest fruit and vegetables exporting country worldwide, with a total market share of 9% and 9.1 million tonnes of fresh produce exported.
According to the latest FAO figures, Spain maintains its leadership position in global ranking of fruits and vegetables’ exporting countries, with a total market share of 9%.

The world champion is followed by the Netherlands and the United States, totalling 7 and 6% respectively. According to 2007 data, Spanish exports represent 9.1 million tonnes and those of the Netherlands 7.3 million tonnes, while those of the U.S. 6,400,000 T. Behind the top three ranks China with 6.1 million and Ecuador with 5.6 million.

The following countries: Mexico, with five million tonnes; Chile with 4.3 million tonnes; France with 4.1 million tonnes; Belgium, with four million tonnes; and Costa Rica, with 3.9 million tonnes.

Spain’s most exported vegetable is tomato with 880.630 tonnes. As for fruit, the most exported ones are small citrus fruits with 1.6 million tonnes. According to FEPEX (Spanish Federation of F&V Producers and Exporters Associations), maintaining this level of global competitiveness is the result of a policy tailored to the industry’s needs. The Spanish Federation considers it important to continue in this direction by developing specific, new measures, as this sector plays a major role in the Spanish economy, both in agricultural production, as in its trade balance.
Here in Guyana, agricultural production has significantly increased in recent years, no doubt due to the sound agricultural policies and programmes implemented by a government that has an unswerving commitment to agriculture.
However, because our local market is a small one, farmers have to look to  overseas markets in order to sustain and increase current levels of production. And to a large extent they have succeeded because of the large Guyanese and Caribbean diasporas in North America and Europe, who still look forward to their traditional foods.
However, one of the setbacks for Guyanese farmers has been the absence of a reliable, cheap and sustained air cargo service which is absolutely essential if they are to sustain their overseas markets, as fruits and vegetables are perishables and would lose their market value if they are not in a fresh and wholesome state.
On this note, it is heartening to hear that LIAT has announced plans to reintroduce its cargo freight service to Guyana and it is encouraging farmers to take advantage of the service to export their produce.
This announcement was made at the Ministry of Agriculture as the Minister of Agriculture recently met LIAT officials, including the Director of Cargo and Quikpak, Wilbur Edwards, to discuss the advantages of this venture.
“The major and constant constraint has been the issue of logistics, reliable as well as affordable cargo and LIAT has now recommenced this service … we have to determine how to ensure that agro exporters take advantage of this service,” Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud wisely notd.
According to Persaud, the parties are also exploring the idea of the New Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC) working closely with LIAT to introduce marketing in countries where Guyana does not have a market share.
Alluding to the importance of the service, LIAT’s Director of Cargo and Quikpak, Wilbur Edwards, said: “We consider the Guyana market a very important one and we have met with[the] CARICOM Secretariat on this initiative and they are very much in support of the increased trade and business for farmers and exporters alike, so we are very happy to get an audience with the minister to let him know the capabilities.”
Edwards explained that the freighter service is available to all territories in which  the airline operates  and emphasised that the cost depends on the destination.
The foundation has therefore been set for the take-off of farmers’ produce and one would hope that this venture would fructify and be sustained because if it does it will bring great dividends to our farmers, agriculture sector and the national economy.