THE People’s Progressive Party (PPP) is calling on the government to immediately restore the social protection measures once enjoyed by the local agricultural community.“Since most of our rice and other farmers are from the rural areas, the loss of the Venezuelan market will set them back even further if no measures are put in place to assist them, given the vital role of farmers in a country whose backbone of the economy still remains agriculture,” the party said in a statement Saturday.
The catalyst, it seems, was the theme under which World Food Day is being celebrated this year, namely, “Social Protection and Agriculture”.
According to the PPP, the main goal of each year’s observance is to raise public awareness about hunger challenges, and encourage people worldwide to take action in the fight against the issue.
As such, the party has expressed satisfaction with this year’s theme, which it says recognises the inter-connection and interaction between agricultural and social protection; the solving of the growing world population with sustainable, equitable; and inclusive solutions in the agriculture sector.
Farmers in today’s world, it says, need access to information, credit, and greater market access; they also need to have access to science, innovation and knowledge.
Referring to the publication, “Achieving Zero Hunger: The Critical Role of Investments in Social Protection and Agriculture”, jointly prepared by the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), the International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD) and the World Food Programme (WFP), the PPP says a strong case is being made for social protection measures, such as cash transfers.
Here, recognition is given that the social protection policy measures implemented by the PPP were on target, especially for residents in the rural committees.
This is why, the PPP/C contended, the $30,000 per month stipend which was taken away from the young Amerindian people is “reprehensible and insensitive”.
The party said further many of those young people have no other income since investment in the various avenues is still hard to come by. This means that they will have to move to the urban areas where they will face other challenges.
Moreover, the PPP/C continued, the $10,000 per school child comes to mind and the peripheral criticisms notwithstanding, the fact of the matter is that since the poor tend to have more children they would have benefited more in absolute terms.
In the Report, reference is made to the graduation of the poor from the transfers, but also emphasises that the elderly and the disabled must continue to receive cash transfers.
World Food Day is observed annually the world over on October 16.