The prospect for many oil-related jobs exist 

THERE is a mostly a quiet movement of farmers all over Guyana who are seeing the wisdom of returning to or staying on the land. Essentially, there are three categories of farmers in operation today, for example, those who can be considered continuous farmers, having been there all along. Then there are the visionary farmers, who are expanding and or diversifying to meet the potential markets being opened up in Guyana. The third type is those who, for the first time are taking up serious farming, either as a permanent or part-time way of life.

One way or the other, the Government, through the Ministry of Agriculture, has been making every effort to encourage farmers and farming. They are in the process of using various agencies, systems and strategies to embolden farmers in agricultural pursuits, growth and development.

The RAID project
The RAID project speaks to the direct input by the ministry into communities which were once at risk to severe flooding and a hindrance to farming activities. In this case four, communities were immediately identified, but by extension, the communities all around them have also been benefitting from the implemented activities.

These communities identified by the government are within the Itacha, Buxton, Beterverwagting/Triumph, Mocha Arcadia/Diamond areas. It was disclosed that these necessitated ‘urgent intervention’ since they experienced constant and severe flooding of their farmlands whenever there was severe rainfall. This has been going on for the last three decades.

Residents within the communities were directly consulted on the way forward for them. And from all indications most, it not all of them expressed the desire to get back into serious farming. However, they had real concerns about their crops and livestock being damaged whenever there was severe rain.

This project is billed to last for 42 months – December 2016 to June 2020. It involves the extensive preparation of more than 500 acres of land. These are being done by cooperatives in Ithaca, Mocha and Buxton Foulis Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) and primarily through community participation. Though not much is left to be done there are still some ongoing activities.

Funding for this project was sourced through the government and the CARICOM Development Fund (CDF) to the value of US$12,432,236. The activities involved, among other undertakings, the design works on drainage catchment acres within the four communities and these have all been completed. Ithaca and Buxton – 2,000 acres each; Beterverwagting/Triumph – 1,000 acres; Mocha/Arcadia Diamond – 6,500 areas, bringing it to a total of 11,500 acres.

Vital hydraulic and hydrological studies were also done and strategies implemented. These were centred on crops; effects of climate change; suitable drainage facilities; new roadway crossings, especially as it related to road crossings over-irrigation and waterway channels; also the re-routing of some existing drainage patterns.

Agricultural development
The government views agricultural development as being connected to poverty reduction. Therefore, as part of the RAID implementation, there were several urgent concerns of the government to guarantee, “Improvements in management, infrastructure, agricultural technology, access to credit by small farmers, diversification and rehabilitating and maintaining drainage and irrigation systems, as well as farm-to-market roads.”

The fact is that agriculture impacts every person, every home, and every sector – both private and public. And this is so because agriculture talks to the ability to produce foods of almost every sort – so it makes it possible to feed people; it enhances the quality of life of people by what they are able to eat and drink; and it has the ability to provide for the creation of raw materials for some of the clothing people wear. It reaches every aspect of life of the people.

Consequently, it is only prudent that decision-makers within Guyana are taking full advantage of all the opportunities that are presenting themselves, in terms of land availability; the willingness of farmers to either return to the land or to take up the challenge of making farming an economically viable way of life.

Crucial to oil and gas
Oil and gas is in the skyline – somewhat visible, but even with this prospect well on the way, agriculture becomes even more important if the country is to be able to supply the best foods and services to its people, as well as those who come to serve; improved market supply both locally and overseas, thus enriching the demand and supply base of the country.

Dr. Mark Bynoe, Director of Energy has been diligently working to let all of the people of Guyana understand the prospects of oil and gas for Guyana. Additionally, he has been encouraging the people to position themselves, not only to receive the direct benefits of that industry, but also to create oil-related job opportunities for themselves.

Dr. Bynoe posited that the coming on stream of the oil and gas sector has created tremendous spill-offs in terms of jobs. He noted that in addition to jobs coming directly out of the sector, there are growing employment opportunities in almost every other sector within the economy.

Agriculture and agro-processing have been identified to play key roles. In this case, the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) continues to do its part in ensuring that farmers are equipped to meet the demand and supply challenges of the future. This ministry is constantly at work. In collaboration with the Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC); the Guyana School of Agriculture (GSA), IICA and many other agencies, they continue to train farmers in value-added activities and strategies in diversification, while equipping them with safe spaces to farm.

Booming of other industries
Clearly the oil and gas sector has far-reaching effects for the booming of jobs in other industries within Guyana. Many of these can all flourish as a result of and within this sector.

The timber industry for one, with the demands generating from carpenters, joiners and others within that industry; sewing, art and craft by individuals or agencies; the return of good drama and theatrical entertainment, in addition to many more are now evolving. While some sectors may still be in their embryonic stages, others are already in a mature state and may have even begun to prosper.

The oil and gas sector in Guyana would eventually begin to go into remission some years from now. However, even as it grows old it would have given birth to some other industries within the economy. Thus, Guyana can never be the same again. It is, therefore, time for many, especially young people to see themselves coming out of vulnerability and poverty, seizing the opportunities even if they do not directly find employment in the oil and gas sector.