MORE and more, the local farming community is proving that Guyana is capable of being self-sufficient in food production. Through partnerships with the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) many farmers have taken the opportunity to plant exotic or high-valued crops. The desirable result is reduced importation and increased local production of certain commodities.

Import Substitution 
Within recent years, the Institute, using demonstration plots, has been working with farmers to introduce high-valued crops such as potatoes, onions, sweet peppers, red cabbage, cauliflower and broccoli. Today, two or more of these crops are being cultivated on farms in Regions Two, Three, Four, Five, Six and 10. That is a positive step towards import substitution.

“Consumers are beginning to have a taste for these crops. The available market is encouraging local farmers such as those in Region 10 to produce cauliflower, broccoli and red cabbage. This is good for the local economy,” Dr. Oudho Homenauth, Chief Executive Officer of NAREI said.

The commercial production of onions is a big win for the institute. NAREI started this journey a few years ago in a partnership with the Promotion of Regional Opportunities for Produce through Enterprise and Linkages (PROPEL). Thus far, approximately 10 hectares of lands in different Regions are being used to grow onions.

Dr. Homenauth indicated, “Farmers in the different areas are scheduled to harvest this December. We should have locally produced onions on the market before Christmas. In terms of onions, we are on target for what was set out at the beginning of 2019. This is good for the other crops sector.”

Another success for the Institute this year was the operationalisation of the Potato Seed Storage facility. Construction of this facility started in 2018 after several trials proved that potatoes could be produced competitively in Guyana.

Dr. Homenauth said that “such equipment is necessary since it will help to adequately address the need for a large-scale storage facility. One of the spin-off effects of this country being able to produce potato on a large-scale will be a significant reduction in its food import bill which continues to be a challenge for Guyana and in the wider CARICOM region. From 2011 to 2016, the food import bill has risen from US$176 Million to US$261 Million, representing a 48 percent increase over the six years. This is an alarming figure and is the premise on which NAREI’s diversification efforts are targeted.”

NAREI’s Head explained that the Institute will be utilising the storage facility next year. “Unfortunately we wouldn’t be able to produce any potatoes this year owing to the absence of planting materials. We hope that will be available early next year.”

Spices
NAREI has been investing in agro-processing in the hinterland to assist farmers. The turmeric factory in Hosororo, Region One was upgraded this year to accommodate a solar drying facility. “We were able to purchase all the turmeric from the farmers and process them with the use of our solar drying facility. We were also able to reduce our cost of production given that we reduced the usage of diesel fuel and used green energy,” Dr. Homenauth said.

Before yearend, the Institute will be constructing three solar drying facilities also in Region One. Those are being made specifically for ginger. There is a market for this product.