New doorways to open for agriculture in Region 1 – Jagdeo

Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha is expected to lead a team to Region One (Barima-Waini) in June, where the potential to boost production capacity and supply regional markets will be addressed.
Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo provided this update coming out of a recent outreach to the region last week. Calls from residents ranged from job opportunities, business development and assistance in agriculture.

It was emphasised that it is a matter of maintaining food security for the region as well as utilising the new transportation advantages in the region with the introduction of ferry vessel MV Ma Lisha.
“We spoke extensively about agriculture, take for example, the changing fortunes of Region One. The biggest problem for the agriculture sector in Region One had always been transportation to move the goods to Georgetown. With the new ferry now and the reconfiguration of the wharf in Mabaruma and Port Kaituma, the new ferry could cut the travel time by 50 per cent,” he explained.
Jagdeo also zeroed in on the feasibility of transporting produce which can already be grown on the Linden-Soesdyke Highway, noting that the best option is to open new markets. Planting material will be provided for plantain and other crops, which farmers complained were too expensive for them to purchase.
“We’re trying to open up some markets directly into the Caribbean to ship directly from the North West for the farmers there. We’re looking to boost production. I asked why aren’t we doing more plantains. It can help with food security. They said the sucker is too expensive so we’re sending in people to work at that.”
The Vice President added that self-sufficiency should be reflected at the household level, and Government will work with the region towards achieving this. The Agriculture Minister is expected to visit Matthew’s Ridge and Port Kaituma to engage farmers.

A few months ago, Mustapha visited the region, where he told farmers that the Ministry would supply all the planting materials for large-scale ginger cultivation in addition to finding lucrative markets for their crops. Farmers also benefitted from shade house materials, Black Giant chickens, farming tools, and other forms of planting materials such as seeds.
President Irfaan Ali had also pointed out that enabling direct market links for agricultural produce to the Caribbean is a major vision planned out for Region One, as he announced a series of investments in electricity and infrastructure for it to come to fruition.
The idea is to produce crops with a stable shelf life, such as spices, which can withstand transportation for long hours since the region is remote.
In the next three years, Guyana, with the assistance of more diversified crops, is aiming to reduce the Caribbean Community’s food import bill by 25 per cent.
Guyana currently holds lead responsibility for agriculture, agricultural diversification and food security in Caricom and is spearheading the regional body’s quest to reduce its US$5 billion food import bill.
High on the agenda to address has been taxes and duties, incentivising agriculture, climate-smart resilient agriculture, productivity, technical support, consumption patterns, data collection, regional transport infrastructure, agro-processing and creating a regional brand. (G12)