GUYANA’S agriculture sector remains a major contributor to the economy, and cognisant of its contribution to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), government has been working to promote its Agriculture Diversification Programme. To further expand and promote sub-sector development, moving away from the traditional sectors, rice and sugar, $1B has been allocated this year to further advance the diversification thrust.
Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh, during the presentation of the 2012 Budget estimates on Friday, stated that this move by government will facilitate additional large scale investment, use of new and emerging technologies, and the implementation of sanitary and phyto-sanitary standards.
“Guyana has long been recognised for its potential to be the food basket of the Caribbean. Were Guyana’s food production potential to be fully realised, not only would our domestic food supply requirements be substantially met, but so would a significant part of the Region’s food import bill be met by local production,” he said.
While a huge chunk will be spent on training for farmers countrywide, investment will also be made in the creation and testing of new varieties, to support and enhance the sector’s food security strategy.
In 2011, the majority of the ground work was embarked upon with the injection of $1.4B, and to ensure that the necessary regulatory framework is in place, several pieces of legislation were also passed aimed at ensuring that the sector remains viable.
Among these were the Seeds Bill, which provides for the production, sale, import, export and provision of quality seeds in Guyana; the Animal Health Bill, which paves the way for the resuscitation of agriculture development; and the Plant Protection Bill, which will significantly transform the way in which plant health is being administered in Guyana.
“In 2011, the sector continued to introduce genetically improved varieties and breeds that can withstand various environmental conditions and provide higher yields. Other efforts are ongoing to improve genetic stocks and varieties that will improve quality and yield for crops, and captured fish,” Dr. Singh said.
Capacity building
Training sessions were also held countrywide in 2011, as approximately 8,000 farmers were trained in good agribusiness, post- harvest practices, and crop and animal husbandry.
This year, farmers will be trained within the clusters of fruits and vegetables, aquaculture and livestock, to complement the additional 40 community-based organisations and producer groups who benefitted from similar interventions last year.
Efforts will also be moving apace on the expansion of the hinterland rice and beans project which has already commenced in Moco-Moco, Region 9.
“The spice project will also be further expanded this year, to include the cultivation of onions, carrots, turmeric, black pepper, ginger, nutmeg and potatoes, in communities such as Kato, Kurukubaru, Paramakatoi and Bamboo Creek,” he said.
Over 5,000 acres of uncultivated lands between Supenaam and Riverstown will be developed this year, allowing farmers access to more lands for expansion of agricultural production in the Aurora area, Region 2.
Approximately 50 large scale farmers will also benefit, in 2012, from the use of improved technology on their farms, resulting in increased production for domestic and export markets.
“Another 30 producer groups will be provided with credit to enable them to finance their own businesses. Further, 49 business plans will be financed to support the introduction of new technologies in agriculture,” Minister Singh highlighted.
Aquaculture
As part of Government’s renewed thrust to modernise the agriculture sector, more emphasis is being placed on sustaining aquaculture, since it is being recognised as one with tremendous potential.
As such, efforts will be geared towards the further expansion of ponds, acquisition of brood stock and the establishment of hatcheries.
Livestock development
Emphasis will be placed on genetic diversification, as the National Agriculture Research and Extension Institute (NAREI), will be better equipped with the addition of a modern germplasm and tissue culture laboratory. Once completed, the laboratory would produce over 50,000 seedlings per year.
“We will also be introducing…international standards to 100 farmers and agro-processors, with particular emphasis on the five large agro-processing facilities, four poultry processing plants, and nine aquaculture farms,” he said.
These initiatives, the Finance Minister underscored, along with the completion of a genetic bank, artificial inseminations laboratory, and quarantine stations at St. Ignatius and Mabura, will significantly aid in the advancement of the sector.
The $192.8B Budget was presented under the theme, “Remaining On Course, United In Purpose. Prosperity For All.”(GINA)
