Guyana seeing progress on targeted agri initiatives – Mustapha

…agri-entrepreneurship, cage fishing among successful programmes

By Jarryl Bryan

Targeted initiatives aimed at bringing more persons into the agriculture sector, such as the Agriculture and Innovation Entrepreneurship Programme, are seeing much success. This report was provided by Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha on the opening day of the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) 38th regional conference.

During his presentation to the conference on Monday, Mustapha gave an update on Guyana’s efforts to contribute to the slashing of the regional food import bill. He explained that there were a number of prominent initiatives the Government rolled out to increase food production in Guyana. And Mustapha acknowledged the need for the rolling out of even more financial and other forms of concrete support for the agriculture sector.
“There is need to improve initiatives, financial support, and the President alluded to that and concrete actions to improve the resilience and sustainability of the agri-food system. To overcome the impacts of climate change and food insecurity, in light of the Region’s high vulnerability.”
“In Guyana, I want to say that we’ve had a number of prominent initiatives which include, and this one is a very noble one that we’ve started in Guyana and the President’s brainchild – the Agriculture Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme, targeting youth to become agri-business owners,” the Minister said, adding that this project was going a far way towards removing the stigma of agriculture being seen as a field exclusively for old people.
The Agriculture and Innovation Entrepreneurship Programme is fully financed by the Guyana Government, but participants can earn big from the produce they harvest.  It is an initiative open to persons whether or not they are already qualified or are pursuing an education in agriculture.

Some of the high-value crops that have been cultivated under this programme are cauliflower, broccoli, beets, cilantro, parsley, celery, lettuce, bell peppers, sweet peppers, hot peppers, carrots, chili, and tomatoes. Participants are fully involved in the process, from mixing the soil to packaging and marketing the crops. These crops are usually sold to restaurants and hotels.

Aquaculture
Meanwhile, reference was also made to the success being seen in aquaculture. In this sector, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government has been rolling out its marine cage farming initiative in various communities.
“The revival of the aquaculture industry is another programme that we are seeing vast progress on, [and] the advancement of the livestock industry and the programme for self-sufficiency in livestock feed in the production of corn and soya bean,” Minister Mustapha said.

“Large infrastructural projects, so we can create the necessary framework for those farmers that are toiling every day to bring food to the table. In the Caricom sub-region, President [Dr Irfaan] Ali has been at the forefront of championing the concept of regional transformation of the food system, to ensure the sector provides healthy, affordable diets for all.”
After assuming office in 2020, the PPP/C Government had announced that it was exploring the possibility of introducing cage culture given the impact climate change was having on the global fisheries sector. President Ali had said his Government was moving ahead with the rollout of a number of innovative solutions, to ensure the livelihood of fisherfolk is maintained.
The cage-fishing initiative was first rolled out in October of 2022 in Mainstay/Whyaka, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), after the Government purchased four marine cages from Brazil in an effort to boost the aquaculture sector within the country. Since then, the Government has committed to expanding the production of prawns and the lucrative marine cage project countrywide to further boost the country’s aquaculture sector significantly.
And it was reported last year that under the Government’s cage culture fishing project, the community of Capoey, Region Two was now eyeing a larger market after harvesting a successful first batch of Tambaqui fish.
This was revealed by Councillor in charge of tourism, Jumol Allicock during an interview with Guyana Times in August of 2023. At that time, Allicock had revealed that the first of three batches of fish had been caught and the community had successfully sold approximately 63 fish at a cost of $80,000. (G3)