- part of US$20.9M programme to stimulate agriculture diversification, ensure sustainability of food supply in face of rising prices
‘Rising price for food internationally has resulted in unprecedented demand on Guyana to supply food to the Caribbean region’ – Minister Robert Persaud

AGRICULTURE Minister Mr. Robert Persaud yesterday declared that rising price for food internationally has resulted in unprecedented demand on Guyana to supply food to the Caribbean region, and as such Guyana needs to ‘step up’ to the challenge of fulfilling this demand.

The minister made this disclosure during the formal launch of a major new initiative, ‘Grow More Food Campaign’ which took place in the Boardroom of the Ministry of Agriculture, Georgetown.

This initiative by the ministry is in collaboration with the New Guyana Marketing Corporation (NGMC).

The campaign, which will target the entire country, is unlike its predecessors since it will not only be production oriented but market led, Persaud told reporters.

The NGMC is tasked to work with other departments and agencies in the ministry to lead the effort.

The campaign is part of a US$20M Agricultural Diversification Programme.

Government continues to advocate the importance of growing more local produce as this has become an even more significant issue for the sustainability of food supply in the regions and in dealing with the rising cost of food prices.

Among areas of benefit in this new initiative area is an increase of Guyana’s export growth rate; the establishment of services and institutions for a sustainable increase in the income derived from the export of non-traditional agricultural exports and the support of institutional arrangements for promoting and managing the agricultural diversification strategy.

Persaud added that the rising price for food internationally has resulted in an unprecedented demand on Guyana to produce more.

This he attributed to the report on the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organisation which stated that food prices increased by 40 percent last year.

In addition, the minister pointed out that the demand for produce such as plantains, watermelons, pumpkin, peppers and a wide range of vegetables including cabbages and bora for export is increasing.

“Last year, exports of all agricultural produce with the exception of sugar exceeded 30 percent,” Persaud disclosed.

He opined that Guyana should strive towards meeting external market demands while at the same time, be able to provide in full quantities; affordable vegetables, fruits, fresh meat and fish to local consumers.

Producing and buying local would not only assist the drive, but would significantly decrease the possibility of the introduction of new pests and diseases such as Citrus Tristeza Virus according to the ministry.

The virus transmitted by insects has plagued citrus producers in many parts of the world, especially in South America, South Africa and Spain, an international source disclosed.

Meanwhile, Persaud said the implementation of the Rural Enterprise and Agriculture Development programme will cost US$6M and will focus on increasing market opportunities available to small-scale producers.

It would also increase the capacity of rural producers to efficiently and effectively produce and market non-traditional products and develop small scale enterprises.

Minister Persaud said this is also directed at increasing their productivity and reducing their vulnerability.