…and human resources development

A MORE natural approach to farming, the development of human resources and their input around the Green State Development Strategy (GSDS) in Guyana were the focus of the three-day visit by World Wildelife Fund (WWF) President, Pavan Sukhdev.

This was Sukhdev’s second visit to Guyana for the year, and WWF Guyana Country Manager, Aiesha Williams, said it underscores how important WWF feels it is to support Guyana in its green state development process.

“These are two very, very central parts of Guyana’s green development. Approximately 65,000 people depend on their jobs for agriculture in Guyana and energy is a key input to production and a key input to development. Working in a way to ensure agriculture is sustainable and designed and planned in a way that it earns more money for the people who are farming,” Sukhdev said at a press briefing on Wednesday.

When Sukhdev visited earlier this year, he met with President David Granger and other government ministers and discussed a number of issues including ‘green’ jobs, sustainable farming, transitioning into a ‘green’ economy and the country’s oil and gas prospects.
This time around saw a more practical approach to the issues. Suhkdev visited several farmers and farming stakeholders in New Amsterdam, Berbice, earlier this week.

“We’ve had discussions in New Amsterdam about agriculture and how agriculture can really help shape the green development,’ Williams explained.

“Agriculture is about biology, it’s not about chemistry, so instead of adding chemicals and trying to grow crops off of chemicals… look more at the natural way of doing so using the elements of the soil, the things that we have around us, so we can grow healthy crops.”
The WWF has been working with 28 nations to change the way those economies operate by generating circumstances for sustainable development.

Country Representative of WWF Suriname, Laurens Gomes, who was also present at Wednesday’s press briefing, noted that Guyana is poised to set the example for others where the GSDS is concerned.

“Guyana has the best opportunity globally. So this is a laboratory for the world, one which we wish that Guyana succeeds in, so you have the best opportunity for decisions to bring this at a global platform,” Gomes said.