Agriculture key to regional food crisis
- Agri Forum set for early June
By Wendella Davidson
Against the backdrop of a looming food crisis and a general threat to food security facing the region and the world at large, along with a bludgeoning food import bill, agriculture is being seen as the key in the CARICOM region.
President Bharrat Jagdeo along with, from left, CARICOM Secretary General, Edwin Carrington and Chairman of the RAIF Task Force, Mr. James Moss-Solomon, next to him, admires the poster promoting the June 6-7 Regional Agriculture Investment Forum, which they unveiled at the CARICOM Secretariat yesterday.
To this end, the CARICOM Region is signalling its intention that it is ready to do business with its renewed focus on the agriculture sector, as is emphasised in the Jagdeo Initiative which has been embraced by political leaders of the Caribbean Community.
A further heightening of this focus will be on June 6 and 7 next, when Guyana hosts a Regional Agriculture Investment Forum (RAIF), which aims at promoting agriculture business as an area for good investment and facilitating match-making between potential investors and agriculture entrepreneurs and promoters.
And, at a press conference and launching ceremony yesterday at the CARICOM Secretariat, Liliendaal, President Jagdeo, who has lead responsibility for Agriculture in CARICOM; Mr. Edwin Carrington, Secretary General, CARICOM; and Mr. James Moss-Solomon, Chairman of the Task Force on RAIF, unfurled a banner to officially launch and promote the forum.
President Jagdeo speaking at the press conference yesterday, with CARICOM Secretary General next to him
The forum seeks to attract private investors in the region and beyond who are seeking new and profitable ventures; fund managers and venture capitalists seeking to diversify their portfolios; bankers who have clients operating in the sector; and companies that are seeking strategic alliances with other businesses.
And, in remarks to a gathering of representatives of diplomatic missions in Guyana, CARICOM Secretariat staffers and media operatives, prior to the unveiling ceremony, President Jagdeo underscored the importance of agriculture in the Region, and hailed the input of the CARICOM Secretariat, the Private Sector and other organisations in helping to realise yesterday’s activity.
And speaking directly to the representatives of diplomatic missions present, he urged that they not only be involved in the up-coming forum, but also spread the message of great involvement, opportunities in the region, and the need for private sector investment in agriculture in the region.
In addition, with the early recognition that agriculture is important for the region, the question being asked is what is responsible for the soaring import bill of the region and the growing food insecurity, and why hasn’t the agriculture sector become a more competitive export industry.
The President suggested that maybe too much emphasis has been placed on other sectors such as petroleum, tourism and other services, resulting in neglect for agriculture.
It was pointed out though, that even though the sector’s contribution to the GDP region’s has shrunk, the employment ratings for agriculture remain quite high.
Reiterating the need for greater involvement from the private sector with Governments playing the role of facilitator, President Jagdeo said the time has come for the region to take advantage of existing framework to develop the sector.
And while Guyana has major possibilities for agriculture, President Jagdeo said the focus will not be on Guyana but on the entire region.
To this end, he urged that the media and missions play their part in spreading the word that the region is “ready to do business”.
Chairman of the RAIF forum, in lauding the Jagdeo Initiative, identified predictability, pre-preparation and being proactive as three key areas in the blueprint for which he publicly commended President Jagdeo for being forthright in selling the concept.
Noting that the elements which now plague the region, for example World War 1 and 2, as well as recurring cycles of man-made disasters and food shortages, all of which had happened before, Mr. Moss- Solomon said the region has nevertheless spent very little time dealing with these issues in the past.
Additionally, the region has not sought to find out how to cope, what strategies need to be developed to be forewarned.
Reminding his audience that throughout the week the regional media has been focusing on food shortages, the RAIF Task Force Chairman said President Jagdeo had been addressing the issue well over two years ago, adding that the ‘Jagdeo Initiative’ addresses the art of communication and a strategic plan.
He warned though that the region must be pro-active in implementing a plan about its own survival highlight.
Noting that the issue of food crisis is a serious matter, Secretary General Carrington urged that the region “Stand Up, Face Up and Consume.”
And alluding to the huge food import bill of the region, he said there needs to be a change in consumption habits.
He said, too, the time had come when everyone must get on board.
Government to expand lands for cultivation of feedstock crops
By Tajeram Mohabir
GOVERNMENT will allocate lands in the Mahaica /Mahaicony /Abary (MMA) scheme, and the Intermediate and Rupununi savannahs to cultivate feedstock products, particularly rice, soybean and corn, Minister of Agriculture, Robert Persaud disclosed yesterday.
The venture is part of the Ministry of Agriculture’s newly launched “Grow More” campaign which is aimed at satisfying local food demands and to cushion the impact of the steep hike in global food prices.
The campaign is also geared to reposition Guyana as the bread basket of the Caribbean, helping to alleviate their current food crises.
Persaud made the announcement at a livestock feed seminar called to assess the current state of the industry and factors affecting availability. The seminar was convened at the Guyana School of Agriculture (GSA), Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara.
The seminar sought to focus on the importance and the role of livestock feed production locally to meet present and future needs.
Against this backdrop, the awareness of the challenges facing the industry, the promotion of livestock feed alternatives and the way forward for the sector was discussed.
It was attended by farmers, top ministry officials as well as representatives from the private sector including Bounty Farms Limited, Guyana Stock Feeds Limited, the National Milling Company (NAMILCO), Maharaja Oil Mill and the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB).
According to Persaud government is awaiting proposals from investors willing to cultivate the available lands strictly for feed stock purposes.
He said a group of farmers plan to extend the cultivation of corn which they started on a small scale along the Berbice River. The minister disclosed that these farmers will be linked with manufacturers and the same will be done with for those who will undertake the soybean project.
Meanwhile, the administration is still awaiting the seed materials promised by Brazil to kick start a soybeans project here and according minister Persaud, he intends to “touch base” with that country to ascertain the status of the undertake.
