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GUYANA has achieved significant increase in production of cash crops and multiple export markets since attaining independence, Agriculture Minister, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy has reported. He said, in 2011, a 10 percent increase in exports of cash crops was recorded, as compared to the previous year’s figures.
Ramsammy said the sector has made major strides that could not have been envisaged 20 years ago.
According to him, previously, this country only produced a small amount of fruits and vegetables for bartering and, before 1990, it was just exporting some fruits and vegetables.
“It was like some people were just helping us out and taking something from us and without the diaspora, because the only export of crops that we had was for the Guyanese shops in London and Toronto and New York and Miami. And if you discounted that, we didn’t have any exports,” he stated.
Minister Ramsammy said that situation has changed since and Guyana exports various fruits and vegetables and is also promoting agro-processing.
Last year, some 10,700 tonnes of fresh fruits, vegetables and processed foods were exported to countries in the wider world, including the Caribbean region, he said.
POSITIVE RESPONSE
The minister noted that the rise in exports is due, in part, to the positive response of the farmers to the Government-led ‘Grow More Food’ campaign, which was launched on March 20, 2008, in an effort to bolster food production by adopting a market-led approach.
He also revealed that both the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and external markets have grown over the years and, today, Guyana has more than eleven tonnes of cash crops, pumpkins, plantains, butternut squash and pepper going to the Caribbean alone.
The Ministry of Agriculture is encouraging citizens to boost production through various other initiatives and pilot projects and large investments have been made in the latter in hinterland regions, including spice, rice and beans, honey and aquaculture.
Recently a one-day seminar was conducted, to address priority issues in agriculture to maximise potential and combat the global food crisis and the adverse effects of climate change, Ramsammy pointed out.
He expressed hope that the country’s cash crop farmers do not suffer the same fate as the rice farmers, relative to payment for their produce.
Ramsammy noted, with concern that some small farmers have to deal with errant exporters who are issuing post-dated cheques which the recipients are unable to cash.
He encouraged exporters to seek the assistance of the ministry in an effort to facilitate the export of the crops if problems arise, particularly with regard to payment to farmers.
The minister pledged to work closely with the New Guyana Marketing Corporation (NGMC) to create linkages to further support these efforts.
Ramsammy said the sector has made major strides that could not have been envisaged 20 years ago.
According to him, previously, this country only produced a small amount of fruits and vegetables for bartering and, before 1990, it was just exporting some fruits and vegetables.
“It was like some people were just helping us out and taking something from us and without the diaspora, because the only export of crops that we had was for the Guyanese shops in London and Toronto and New York and Miami. And if you discounted that, we didn’t have any exports,” he stated.
Minister Ramsammy said that situation has changed since and Guyana exports various fruits and vegetables and is also promoting agro-processing.
Last year, some 10,700 tonnes of fresh fruits, vegetables and processed foods were exported to countries in the wider world, including the Caribbean region, he said.
POSITIVE RESPONSE
The minister noted that the rise in exports is due, in part, to the positive response of the farmers to the Government-led ‘Grow More Food’ campaign, which was launched on March 20, 2008, in an effort to bolster food production by adopting a market-led approach.
He also revealed that both the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and external markets have grown over the years and, today, Guyana has more than eleven tonnes of cash crops, pumpkins, plantains, butternut squash and pepper going to the Caribbean alone.
The Ministry of Agriculture is encouraging citizens to boost production through various other initiatives and pilot projects and large investments have been made in the latter in hinterland regions, including spice, rice and beans, honey and aquaculture.
Recently a one-day seminar was conducted, to address priority issues in agriculture to maximise potential and combat the global food crisis and the adverse effects of climate change, Ramsammy pointed out.
He expressed hope that the country’s cash crop farmers do not suffer the same fate as the rice farmers, relative to payment for their produce.
Ramsammy noted, with concern that some small farmers have to deal with errant exporters who are issuing post-dated cheques which the recipients are unable to cash.
He encouraged exporters to seek the assistance of the ministry in an effort to facilitate the export of the crops if problems arise, particularly with regard to payment to farmers.
The minister pledged to work closely with the New Guyana Marketing Corporation (NGMC) to create linkages to further support these efforts.
