-Agriculture Minister says; highlights how Guyana has transformed under PPP/C gov’t

WITH Guyana gaining a firm footing on its current trajectory of development, Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha says the government has massive plans to bolster the agriculture sector.
During a presidential outreach to Canal Bank, Region One (Barima-Waini), Mustapha noted that it is under the leadership of President, Dr Irfaan Ali that the lives of Guyanese have transformed.

He said, “Less than four years ago when the President was the presidential candidate for the People’s Progressive Party/Civic, he came to these areas, campaigning for the PPP/C, asking you to support the PPP/C, support him to become the President of Guyana and when he becomes the President of Guyana, he will ensure that he develops your community and develop your region and today is a living testimony that the President has fulfilled that commitment and we have seen the development taking place in our region.”

He noted that Region One has benefited from massive development taking place in all sectors such as health, education, agriculture, social services, etc.
“In every single sector, we have seen transformation taking place,” he stated.

He also noted that regardless of where one lives, access to education has become easier since anyone can achieve a diploma, a bachelor or a master’s degree online because of the PPP/C’s implementation of the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL) Scholarship programme.

“We are not coming here to make empty promises,” he said while explaining that the government has executed almost all of their manifesto promises.
He also stated that the PPP/C will continue giving communities support as the memory of the country’s growth being stagnant under the previous coalition government is still alive in the minds of citizens.

While reflecting on some of the hardships that Guyanese had to endure under the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) government, the Agriculture Minister highlighted how unemployment was prominent.
He said that the former APNU+AFC Coalition Government closed several sugar estates across the country, leaving thousands of persons without jobs or sources of income.

The Rose Hall Estate, prior to its closure, was “home” to some 2,500 sugar workers, but 1,181 of those were retrenched. The remaining workers from the Rose Hall Estate were transferred to Blairmont Estate over in West Coast Berbice and Albion Estate on the Corentyne.

“Those were the achievements of the last government,” Mustapha said while pointing out that the APNU+AFC’s policies were detrimental to the people of Guyana.
He highlighted that the former coalition government did not even possess a plan to develop the agriculture sector as they significantly reduced its budgetary allocation.

With the massive injections of investments being made in the agriculture sector, Guyana has managed to become a leader in the sector and Guyana is producing 60 per cent of the food Guyanese are consuming, he said.

MASSIVE PLANS
Following several community engagements in the region, President Ali committed to clearing and empoldering several acres of land. In Hotoquai in the Mararkai sub-district, President Ali said the government will assist farmers in that community and other surrounding neighbourhoods to clear some 250 acres of land.

“We want to see among these communities present here today at least 50 acres of land in one central area dedicated to pineapples; we want to see 100 acres of land dedicated to plantain production,” he told residents.
The government, he noted, will provide farmers with some 4,000 pounds of ginger and 5,000 coconut plants to expand the production of those crops.

This support, he noted further, will also be given to expand turmeric production. Simultaneously, a market will be established to ensure farmers can sell their produce to earn an income.
“The Guyana Marketing Corporation will work on taking off the produce and bringing the produce to the market, especially now that we are advancing our work in satisfying the CARICOM (Caribbean Community) market,” the Head of State said. This will allow the country to meet the demands of its local and regional markets.

Further support will be given to farmers to start coconut production on a larger scale to meet market demands locally and regionally. Additionally, President Ali informed residents of the government’s plans to establish processing facilities to add value to cassava.

“These are the things that are going to change prospects for our communities. These are the things that are going to lead to sustainability and resilience,” the President said.
Similar support will be given to residents in the communities of Canal Bank and Arakaka.