ONE of the APNU+AFC coalition government’s stated priorities is the provision of food security for all Guyanese. Food security is internationally defined as, “The availability at all times of adequate, nourishing, diverse, balanced and moderate world food supplies of basic foodstuffs to sustain a steady expansion of food consumption and to offset fluctuations in production and prices.”

In other words, food security is a situation in which citizens feel and are actually secure in relation to the availability of food, regardless of external circumstances. Clearly, being confident that one will not go hungry is important to everyone’s peace of mind, and such confidence obviously contributes to a person’s mental well-being, while the actuality of food security is essential for physical health, which is itself necessary for productivity and a positive contribution to one’s community. Government’s commitment to the ideal is therefore commendable, since that commitment makes clear that the administration cares about the welfare of the people, as well as the development and progress of the Guyanese society.

Since the election to office of the APNU+AFC government in mid-2015, food security has been on the front burner. President David Granger has repeatedly emphasised the desirability, indeed, the necessity of Guyana being self-sufficient with regard to the provision of a secure and sufficient supply of safe, nutritious food to all Guyanese. Since taking office, the ‘Coalition’ administration has followed-up on that promise with concrete action, with the objective of ensuring that no Guyanese should go hungry. Those facts, considered in a holistic context, point directly in the direction of agriculture.

This October, being Agriculture Month, is an opportune time to discuss a few of the administration’s policies, initiatives, and programmes designed to move Guyana forward in the positive direction towards 100 per cent food security. And as was stated, that objective rests on a foundation of a solid, expanding, diversifying, successful agricultural sector.

Agriculture Month 2019 is being observed under the theme, “Sustainable Agriculture for ensuring Food Safety and a Green Economy”. While the theme speaks for itself, it may be iterated that a safe, sustainable food supply is the objective, all within the context of an environment-friendly construct. To this end, government has initiated several innovative programmes.

Minister of Agriculture Noel Holder has expressed the issue most eloquently, when he said, “Guyana, as you know, is a food-secure country, but there are pockets of food insecurity and hunger that we need to address. Additionally, given the significant amount of money spent on health problems related to malnutrition, strategies and policies to ensure the availability and affordability of healthy diets is essential for food and nutrition security of our citizens.” As he went on to say, “For healthy diets, we must improve food safety. Our government has made food safety a public priority. A paradigm shift in the approach to food safety is required, starting from our farms and ending at the dining table.

“The Ministry of Agriculture has been pursuing interventions to ensure food security for all; specifically, access to safe food throughout the country, with a view to maintaining a healthy and productive population. With the passing of the Food Safety and Animal Welfare Bills, the activation of such practices within Guyana will ensure that the country is a benefactor in securing external markets for its agricultural products, and safeguarding our own food supply.”

Government, since taking office in 2015, has made great strides towards improving the agricultural sector. After all, agriculture contributes 16.2 per cent to the national GDP. The relative share of persons employed in agriculture is 17.8 per cent, and approximately 26 per cent of Guyana’s export earning come from agriculture. It is evidently a major sector, employing thousands of Guyanese.

The administration has announced that it is focussed on revitalising the coconut industry, thereby producing more jobs. Government has established two state-of-the-art laboratories to test and enhance soil fertility, and to eliminate the problem of pests. A water-quality ‘lab’ is in the works, while other laboratory facilities, such as those that ensure food safety, are fully operational.

Government has announced that the ultimate goal is not only to be locally self-sufficient with regard to food, but to expand the sector to increase and diversify exports. The administration has given its assurance that the sector will not be neglected after oil production begins. Instead, agriculture will remain the foundation of Guyana’s economy. This is good news indeed for everyone, including those who work or wish to work in the sector.