Dear editor,
PLEASE allow me a space in your newspapers letter column to share my views of what I see happening in the past two and a half-years or so under this present PPP\C administration when it comes to the backbone of this nation, which is the agriculture sector.
Agriculture, as we all know, plays a very important part in our everyday lives and well-being for us to survive. This ministry is very important because it provides what we need daily to put on our table in having a healthy meal.
Since the PPP took office, we all are seeing a very massive and rapid development and growth in the agri sector. As I have said before and will say again that the agri sector is on the rise here in Guyana and that is because the ministry is headed by a man that comes from the grassroot and knows about agriculture, the Hon. Zulfikar Mustapha, MP.
Since the PPP took office and Minister Mustapha took up that ministry, we started to see massive changes and development. We see qualified people being put in various sectors under the ministry to ensure that there are massive growth and development within each sector.
We are seeing better management of sub-agencies under the said ministry. We are seeing better management and frame of mind in doing the everyday work under those heads and its employees.
We are seeing massive infrastructure work being done across Guyana to develop this sector and ensure our people within this sector benefits more. We are seeing better drainage and irrigation works being done so that farmers can have access to clean canals, etc.
We are seeing better dams being built in the farming area and lots of farm-to-market roads constructed, which is much needed to give farmers better access in and out of their lands. Recently, we saw the opening of yet another farm-to-market road in the #58 area that will benefit the many farmers in that area.
We are seeing lots of cash-crop farmers expanding their farmlands in ensuring that this sector also move positively forward because it’s a sector that we all depend on everyday in ensuring food is on our table.
We are seeing massive expansion in agriculture development in the interior regions also. I have been following the Region Nine agri group and am amazed with the number of beneficial projects that will benefit their region and people.
I can go on and on and mention several other massive developments that are taking place under this government for the agri sector, but the massive development can be seen across Guyana every day and most of all the rapid growth of this sector is very visible all across this land of ours.
Be it in rice cultivation, cash-crop farming, cattle rearing, fishing, etc., the agriculture sector in general on a massive and rapid development towards a brighter and better future for all.
This brings me to some questions as to what was the previous government doing to develop this sector in their five years? What vision did the previous government and the minister had for this sector? What programme, if any, was implemented to see the growth and development in the various sub-agencies under this ministry? What assistance was given to the farmers? Etc.
I will bluntly say that under the PPP first year in office and the works being done in this sector during that year, it took APNU+AFC and the-then Minister of Agriculture five years and they only did about five per cent work in those five years.
I must commend the present Minister of Agriculture and his hard-working employees in ensuring that this ministry rises beyond and above our expectations. I must also thank the PPP and its leaders for such outstanding work and vision for this sector in ensuring that agriculture development is being rapidly implemented across our country.

Yours sincerely,

Abel Seetaram