Guyana to lobby Caricom on including Brazilian state in food security task force

…as agreement reached for exchange of technology, investments

The Guyana Government, which presently chairs the Caribbean Community (Caricom) Ministerial Task Force on Food Security, will be lobbying Caricom on bringing the Brazilian State of Roraima on board during the discussions.

This was revealed by President Dr Irfaan Ali on Sunday as one of the outcomes of the just-concluded Agri-Investment Forum and Expo at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC), which brought together industry players from all across the region.
According to the President, who met with investors from the State of Roraima and other parts of Brazil on Saturday in Lethem, there is much that the Brazilian state can contribute towards the region’s push to reach its food import bill targets.
“We’re talking here about a state that is producing onion, soya oil, wheat. All the grains that we can utilise in Caricom for our food import needs. All the fruits that can go into our productive sector. But more importantly, everything they do on their side can be done on our side first. They have offered their technology, their investments, their partnership and their commitment.”

“In exchange, we have committed to the Heads, a proposal that the State of Roraima be part of the Ministerial Task Force on agriculture from Caricom. We have invited them to be part of the forum in Trinidad and Tobago in August and they are going to be a part of that forum,” President Ali also said.
According to President Ali, he had in-depth discussions with the Secretary of Agriculture for the State of Roraima, Marlon Buss and the consensus among the group is that they want to be integrated more into the vision of Caricom, when it comes to the agricultural sector.
President Ali was of the view that there are numerous areas for opportunities when it comes to collaboration with the State of Roraima, including in the area of cattle rearing. He noted that in one year, production of angus beef could be doubled throughout the region.
“They want to be integrated not only from a supply perspective, but from a productive perspective. They want to be integrated into this vision of Caricom. They want to be part of this and I think it is an excellent opportunity for a win-win,” President Ali said.
On Saturday, President Ali along with several Caricom Heads of Government and other regional officials participated in a Caribbean-Roraima Investors Luncheon at the Santa Fé farm in North Rupununi.
The Brazilian investors, who represent half of the production capacity of the State of Roraima, made presentations on their capacity and capabilities, and spoke of their intentions to collaborate with Guyana and the wider Caricom Region in agriculture.
Presentations were also made by a high-level team from the State of Roraima including its Secretary of Agriculture, Buss. After the meeting, the Government of Guyana, through the Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the State of Roraima to enhance agriculture through research and development.
President Ali meanwhile had told the investors that Caricom knows that it has to take action and has committed to taking action to ensuring food security in the region. During the visit, President Ali and Prime Minister Rowley were also joined by the Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, Gaston Browne; Premier of Montserrat, Joseph Farrell and other Regional officials.
Roraima is one of 26 states in Brazil and covers an area of approximately 86,300 square miles.