The Ministry of Agriculture must be commended for its efforts thus far

Dear Editor,
Permit me a few lines to pen my opinion on the work of the Ministry of Agriculture thus far. Since August of 2020, the Ministry, under the stewardship of the Honourable Zulfikar Mustapha, has seen a turnaround. There has been a remarkable transformation in terms of policies, execution, and the overall management of the sector.
Minister Mustapha, a man known for being proactive since he served as Regional Chairman of Region Six, has, in just over a year, implemented the right managerial policies that have trickled down and impacted the lives of farmers across the country.
Because of his grassroots background and no-nonsense approach to tackling the inherited issues faced in the sector, Minister Mustapha must be commended for the positive direction in which the Ministry is now headed.
The overall vision of President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali for the agriculture sector is clear: Guyana must be able to take its rightful place in the region when it comes to agriculture. Our food systems must be transformed to satisfy the regional demand for healthy food. Guyana has the land and other resources to do this, and it is clear that the President and the Minister are working to ensure this is achieved.
The fact that the Government was able to regain its leading role in Caricom as it pertains to agriculture in less than a year in office clearly demonstrates that our regional leaders and policymakers are confident that Guyana has what it takes to lead the efforts to propel agriculture production, development and sustainability in the hemisphere.
Our leaders have stressed the importance of having a thriving agriculture sector. Being able to feed the citizens with wholesome food is of extreme importance. Our world is changing, it’s clear that our President and Agriculture Minister understand that.
In conclusion, I would like to once again commend the President and the Minister for the advances made thus far. The task has not been easy, but the commitment of these gentlemen to ensuring our farmers have access to exceptional facilities and services and that the best quality of food is available to our citizens lets me know that the sector is in the right hands. Kudos! Continue to serve with humility and dedication.

Yours sincerely,
Ralph Fraser