THE Ministry of Agriculture is aiming to “keep agriculture in the forefront” of Guyana, said Minister of Agriculture Noel Holder at the launching of Agriculture Month on Wednesday.
Addressing media operatives at the ministry’s Regent Street head office during the launch, Minister Holder said many persons sometimes do not understand the importance of agriculture, and as such, the month of activities will stimulate greater awareness.

“Agriculture is something that is not normally in the forefront of people’s minds, as a matter of fact in some countries, children who are growing up think that milk comes from a tin can and not from a cow and so they take these things for granted. You know rain falls and [in] this country we expect the water to be taken off somehow; we don’t think that you are six feet below sea-level and therefore the background things have to happen to get this water out, so you take these things for granted. In Agriculture Month, we try to bring things to the fore. To let you know what has been happening that allows you to live the life you are living, eating as you should, to allow the economy to work as it does, to export some $200M U.S. worth of rice, things of that sort,” he explained.

This year, Agriculture Month will be celebrated under the theme, “Shaping Agriculture for a Green Economy.”

Agriculture Month seeks to highlight both the progress, challenges and the new path which is being crafted in the agriculture sector of Guyana.

According to Holder, the promotion of a ‘Green Economy’ is one of the principal vehicles through which the United Nations stimulates worldwide awareness of the environment and enhances political attention and action. In fact, it is one in which the vital linkages among the economy, society and environment are taken into account.

He stated, “A Green Economy is a blueprint for a better quality of life for all Guyanese and it ensures a transition to sustainable economic growth. The Ministry of Agriculture aims to contribute towards this goal through sustainable, productive, climate-resilient and diversified agriculture. Specially, the re-orientation and diversification of the sector, reducing reliance on traditional sub-sectors and opening new (higher value-added and higher growth industries) investment opportunities for sustainable income-generation.”
The United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) defines a Green Economy as “One that results in improved human well-being and social equity, while significantly reducing environmental risks and ecological scarcities.” A green economy is one whose growth in income and employment is driven by public and private investments that reduce carbon emissions and pollution, enhance energy and resource efficiency, and prevent the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services. These investments need to be catalyzed and supported by targeted public expenditure, policy reforms and regulation changes. Policy changes which the Ministry of Agriculture will continue to advance.

At the event, Holder noted that the official launch of Agriculture Month will be an Interfaith Service on Sunday, September 30, 2018 in the Ministry of Agriculture head office compound.

He also highlighted the main events that will happen for Agriculture Month such as: National Tree Day observance on October 5 at Ebini, Region 10; Food and Agriculture Organisation-sponsored World Food Day observance at Lake Mainstay Whyaka, Region Two on October 16; launching of the Guyana Livestock Development Authority’s Alternative Energy Use project on October 17 at Mahaicony, amongst other activities.