– to help boost diversification of ‘agri’ sector

ASSISTANT Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), Dr. Julio Berdegué has said that incentives are needed to develop and diversify the local agricultural sector.

During a recent visit to Guyana aimed at strengthening relations between the country and the FAO, Dr. Berdegué noted that in developing any economic sector, “proper economic incentives” are needed. The fishing industry is one such industry in Guyana he believes can be bolstered in if proper incentives are given. “Nobody is going to want to invest in a boat and spend all their time fishing if there’s not a business for him or her at the end of the day,” he explained to the Guyana Chronicle, adding: “Having a proper environment for that person to be able to make a profit is extremely important.” Guyana, he highlighted, is one of the 84 countries in the world that have signed a major global agreement to regulate illegal fishing, but even so, much more can be done.

“It’s also about infrastructure: Where will the catch be stored. Will we have cold-storage chains so that we can get the produce to the market? Is there a technology transfer?” Dr. Berdegué,who is also the FAO representative for Latin America and the Caribbean, noted that it has been often found that fishermen are using technologies which are extremely damaging to the environment and to their own livelihoods. As such, he said, it becomes even more imperative for an enabling environment to be fostered.

Today, every country that wants to be successful 20 years down the road; because it takes 20 years to really develop, cannot just invest in one or two things. According to Dr. Berdegué, a system must be put in place to involve all stakeholders in developing the country’s economy. And in so doing, he said, emphasis must be placed on innovation, and giving room for trial-and error.

“Some of those ideas might not work well, but some of those ideas might very well be the future for Guyana and the world,” the senior FAO official said, adding that while technology transfer and infrastructure investments are paramount, they require strong public-private-partnerships. And in doing so, he said, incentives must be given, too, for investments.
Speaking on the FAO’s role in providing support, Dr. Berdegué said that there are many ways the FAO can, and will seek to help. “We can provide assistance, for example, in regulatory frameworks; in technology transfer; in good practises for conserving marine biodiversity and proper management guidelines,” he said.