THE Government Information Agency (GINA), in giving a synopsis of the Jagdeo Initiative on Agriculture, wrote the following: 

“Several initiatives are being pursued to help realise a ‘new agriculture vision’ for Guyana, which is set on the premise of the ‘Jagdeo Initiative,’ that identifies and defines the key constraints facing agricultural development in the Caribbean Region.
“The ‘new agriculture vision’ aims at making the sector more than the production of food by exploring the numerous opportunities that exist for agro-businesses that will create more employment, increase export earnings and the income of all stakeholders, especially farmers.
“The ‘Jagdeo Initiative’ identifies and defines key, crucial and binding constraints to agricultural repositioning in the Caribbean Region and aims to develop and implement targeted, focused and practical interventions at both the regional and national levels to overcome the constraints. This exercise, spearheaded by (former) President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, has been endorsed throughout the Caribbean for its thorough analysis of the state of agriculture, its hard look at internal and external factors and for deepening the discussion of fundamental areas that need improvement, reform and/or initiation.
“Limited financing and inadequate new investments, outdated and inefficient agricultural health and food safety systems, inadequate research and development and fragmented and unorganised private sector are some of the constraints identified. Insufficient land and water distribution and management systems, deficient and uncoordinated risk management measures and inadequate transport systems are other elements outlined in the initiative.
“In pursuing the ‘Jagdeo Initiative’, several interventions were made by the Government of Guyana to help realise the country’s agricultural potential. At present a chain of activities is being undertaken in this direction.
“This includes the new extension services programme that entails several components aimed at aiding cultivation and production, implementation of new technologies and research.”
As a booster to the Jagdeo Initiative on Agriculture, Government launched the ‘Grow More Food’ campaign to restore an interest in farming and agro-processing, in efforts to boost personal and national fortunes; as well as to encourage healthier eating habits.
The momentum spiraled upward, and, today, the plethora of fresh produce –fruits, vegetables, fish meats and by-products — are overflowing in Guyana’s marketplaces, to the extent where there is oftentimes a glut leading to the dumping of fruits and vegetables.
Conversely, because of the PPP/C’s restoration of the free-market system, and the availability of foreign currency, there are imported foods of every variety flooding supermarket shelves. There is growth in the economy and reserves in the exchequer so Guyana’s social sector’s budgetary allocations are incrementally climbing on an ever-upward trajectory. However, Guyanese consumers needs to take cognizance of the fact that eating local is healthier and will guard wallets, lives, and boost lifestyles, because the overabundance of fresh fruits and vegetables in Guyana’s marketplaces have no preservatives or additives.
If Guyanese learn to support our own and buy local instead of tinned, bottled and packaged foods, then not only the national economy, but the quality of our lives, will become healthier.