AGRICULTURE, being the main plank upon which Guyana’s economy is based, speaks to the vitality of the sector. This fact was underscored recently when Guyana was bestowed an award for achieving the distinction of meeting the Millennium Development Goal (MDG), relating to hunger.

Earlier this month, this newspaper reported that Agriculture Minister, Mr Noel Holder, was in attendance in Rome, Italy, for three specialised meetings, as well as for issues regarding Guyana’s membership of various agriculturally related organisations.

The Minister also received the prestigious award for Guyana’s success in meeting the MDG in relation to hunger.

The first meeting he attended was the Thirty-ninth Session of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations’ (FAO) Biennial Conference, the General Meeting of FAO.

This meeting’s agenda included the appointment of the Director General of the Organisation, Dr. Jose Graziano da Silva. The present Director General was returned unopposed almost unanimously. The count showed that of the 179 countries eligible to vote, 177 voted in his favour.

Guyana’s presence at these forums is very significant. The country, because its topographical and geographical setting in a coastal zone being below sea level and thus prone to flooding, is a member of the Small Island Developing States (SIDS).

Prudent watch is therefore always necessary as rising sea levels, increasing air and sea surface temperatures, and changing rainfall patterns, as well as the impact of natural disasters and the degradation of coastal and marine ecosystems, are always matters that impinge on the ‘Sustainable Development’ of countries like Guyana.

The second meeting was vital as it provided an opportunity for SIDS to share experiences and highlight priorities to achieve sustainable development for ‘Food Security and Nutrition.’ Guyana’s success thus far in this area is universally accepted. Guyana has made outstanding progress in MDG1, particularly in the area of halving the proportion of people who suffer from hunger.

Guyana is also among 38 countries which have met internationally-established targets in the fight against hunger, ahead of the deadline set for 2015. In addition, the country has also met the more stringent World Food Summit (WFS) goal, having reduced by half the absolute number of undernourished people between 1990-92 and 2010-2012.

The final meeting was a Special Event ceremony on June 7, entitled ‘Completing the Millennium Development Goals Round: recognising achievements in the fight against hunger’. The occasion saw Guyana, as one of four countries in CARICOM, receiving special honour for having achieved the distinction of meeting either the ‘World Food Summit (WFS) targets and/or the Millennium Development Goals (MDG)’ in relation to hunger.

In the wake of emancipation, freed slaves trekked away from the hated sugar plantations, only working intermittently as per their needs, to pursue an agriculture-based survival mechanism.

With monies saved from working in the sugar estates the former slaves bought villages where they established agriculture-based local economies, especially with ground provisions.

Runaway slaves had stolen some paddy grains that had been imported to feed animals from the granaries of the estate owners and had planted rice in the Mahaicony area. Indentured immigrants who, after they had served their term of indentureship were granted marshlands in lieu of repatriation monies had taken rice cultivation to a different level, from which a parallel economy to the sugar sector grew.

Simultaneously, cash crop farming was pursued aggressively, while kitchen gardens thrived and augmented family pots.

This, in essence, was the emergence of Guyana’s vibrant agricultural sector. Over the years the sector has advanced tremendously, with a variety of non-traditional crops emerging – first as experimental forays, then as village cooperative industries. Value-added products found export markets and appreciated the success of the sector.

The honours heaped on this country for meeting international goals in alleviating hunger should therefore go to ancestors who laid the base and left a legacy that sustains.