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UNDER the Dr Cheddi Jagan-led PPP governments during 1957 to 1964, the foundation for our agricultural take-off was laid and in fact it was during this period when we made the most significant advancement in agricultural production. And this was achieved through the sound and visionary agricultural policies and programmes which saw the revolutionary transformation of our agricultural landscape.
Against tremendous opposition from our colonial master, Dr Jagan was eventually able to make Black Bush Polder into one of our largest agricultural schemes and one of the largest in the English-speaking Caribbean, if not the largest.
In tandem with the Tapakuma Scheme, the MMA and other major agricultural projects and areas, Black Bush Polder was able to dramatically boost agricultural production.
In fact, during 1957 to 1964, rice production increased by 74% and we were exporting pumpkins and ground provisions to the other Caribbean countries.
Significantly, milk production during this period jumped so high, it prompted Dr Jagan to establish a milk pasteurisation plant at Kingston which virtually supplied the entire country with pasteurised milk for as low as about 19 cents per bottle.
It would be noteworthy to recall that the then political opposition acknowledging the agricultural success promised in its 1964 election manifesto: Free Milk and Cassava, Not a Soul Shall Go to Bed Hungry.
It should be recalled too that this same opposition dubbed the PPP government “a rice government” and “coolie government” with obvious racial overtones. But the reality was not that the government favoured people of East Indian descent. It was just that the overwhelming majority of people involved in agriculture were of East Indian descent, but anyone of a different ethnic group who was involved in agriculture benefited from the policies and programmes of the government.
Unfortunately, when the opposition came to government in 1964 through the machinations of the U.S. and the U.K. along with their local surrogates, the agriculture sector plummeted to its lowest ebb through a lack of sound and visionary management and of course vindictiveness, because most of the farmers were supporters of the PPP.
The current government is continuing on the same path as its predecessors of 1957-1964 and we are seeing similar results in agricultural production.
However, one of the areas in which we have not been able to raise production to a significant level is milk and as such, it is good to hear from Agriculture Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy that his ministry is moving towards increased milk production and processing of it.
He noted correctly that in order to significantly increase milk production, we need better breeds of cows and in this regard the livestock industry was given a great boost with the commissioning of a genetic laboratory at the Guyana Livestock Development Authority(GLDA) farm at Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara, last October.
The modern facility serves to improve the quality of animals, hence producing better dairy products. Its activities include testing, preserving and storing of semen from the animals, to be used at later dates to create better breeds.
But there are also other issues that need to be addressed including adequate pasturage, affordable inputs and services and incentives to dairy farmers.
In the past, almost every rice farmer also reared cows for dairy production. We need to encourage them to do so again as not many rice farmers today are involved in rearing cows.
It is unfortunate that our country is flooded with dairy products from countries which do not have agricultural potential and resources like us; the geographic size of The Netherlands is less than quarter of Guyana, yet it is among the largest producers of dairy products in the world.
The beauty about increased milk production is that it would lead to production of other dairy products such as cheese, butter and yogurt among others. And very important is the fact that the accessibility of dairy products would lead to our children and nation becoming healthier.
Against tremendous opposition from our colonial master, Dr Jagan was eventually able to make Black Bush Polder into one of our largest agricultural schemes and one of the largest in the English-speaking Caribbean, if not the largest.
In tandem with the Tapakuma Scheme, the MMA and other major agricultural projects and areas, Black Bush Polder was able to dramatically boost agricultural production.
In fact, during 1957 to 1964, rice production increased by 74% and we were exporting pumpkins and ground provisions to the other Caribbean countries.
Significantly, milk production during this period jumped so high, it prompted Dr Jagan to establish a milk pasteurisation plant at Kingston which virtually supplied the entire country with pasteurised milk for as low as about 19 cents per bottle.
It would be noteworthy to recall that the then political opposition acknowledging the agricultural success promised in its 1964 election manifesto: Free Milk and Cassava, Not a Soul Shall Go to Bed Hungry.
It should be recalled too that this same opposition dubbed the PPP government “a rice government” and “coolie government” with obvious racial overtones. But the reality was not that the government favoured people of East Indian descent. It was just that the overwhelming majority of people involved in agriculture were of East Indian descent, but anyone of a different ethnic group who was involved in agriculture benefited from the policies and programmes of the government.
Unfortunately, when the opposition came to government in 1964 through the machinations of the U.S. and the U.K. along with their local surrogates, the agriculture sector plummeted to its lowest ebb through a lack of sound and visionary management and of course vindictiveness, because most of the farmers were supporters of the PPP.
The current government is continuing on the same path as its predecessors of 1957-1964 and we are seeing similar results in agricultural production.
However, one of the areas in which we have not been able to raise production to a significant level is milk and as such, it is good to hear from Agriculture Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy that his ministry is moving towards increased milk production and processing of it.
He noted correctly that in order to significantly increase milk production, we need better breeds of cows and in this regard the livestock industry was given a great boost with the commissioning of a genetic laboratory at the Guyana Livestock Development Authority(GLDA) farm at Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara, last October.
The modern facility serves to improve the quality of animals, hence producing better dairy products. Its activities include testing, preserving and storing of semen from the animals, to be used at later dates to create better breeds.
But there are also other issues that need to be addressed including adequate pasturage, affordable inputs and services and incentives to dairy farmers.
In the past, almost every rice farmer also reared cows for dairy production. We need to encourage them to do so again as not many rice farmers today are involved in rearing cows.
It is unfortunate that our country is flooded with dairy products from countries which do not have agricultural potential and resources like us; the geographic size of The Netherlands is less than quarter of Guyana, yet it is among the largest producers of dairy products in the world.
The beauty about increased milk production is that it would lead to production of other dairy products such as cheese, butter and yogurt among others. And very important is the fact that the accessibility of dairy products would lead to our children and nation becoming healthier.
