Transformative project badly needed for Region 6

Dear Editor,
The Honourable Finance Minister, Winston Jordan in his 2018 Budget presentation assured the agriculture sector that “the Government is committed to improving the livelihoods of rice farmers”. He further added that “one important aspect of strengthening stability and sustainability of Guyana’s rice sector is to increase productivity per unit”. However, he needs to observe what is currently happening in the rice sector in order to achieve this objective.
Currently, rice farmers are facing two serious constraints: high land rent and a high rate of paddy damage due to paddy bug infestations. Both of these have resulted in an escalation of the cost of production by at least 30 per cent. The Government can make a huge difference in Region Six, but it is clear that sound economic advice on agricultural policies is seriously lacking or overlooked.
Many representations were made by rice farmers and interested stakeholders who would have foreseen that unless the Government encouraged the mechanisation of the rice industry, then there will come a time when rice farmers within the industry will feel the negative effects and suffer declining profitability, and many will be forced to exit the industry.
However, even though the Finance Minister is ecstatic about his allocations to Public Infrastructure and Agriculture of $35 billion and $19.5 billion respectively, Region Six is not the beneficiary of any transformative project despite being plunged into serious impending social and economic crisis which will arise from the negative ripple effects emanating from the GuySuCo restructuring and privatisation. Privatisation will not magically and immediately bring Skeldon and Rose Hall Estates to prosperity; time is of the essence to allow the benefits to flow. Downsizing of estate operations will also mean more jobs on the breadline as in the case of the Rose Hall Estate.
On many occasions, President David Granger had thrown the gauntlet to Berbicians to come up with transformative plans to stimulate economic recovery, as he alluded to the fact that Berbice is a ‘sleeping giant’ and can become the ‘rice bowl’ of the country. He knows too well that oil is not the answer and examples are abound of countries being oil rich and yet starving. We must note that fossil oil is not a renewable resource, but coconut oil is!
Much touted and publicised is the Number 58/59 all-weather road; it is capable of opening up approximately 150,000 acres of arable land, which is suitable for rice cultivation, cattle farming, citrus, provisions, vegetables, coconuts, and aquaculture. Immediately, this will solve the problem of high rentals since the supply of rice farming and other arable lands would have been greatly increased. This is taking into consideration both sides of the Canje Creek.
The establishment of industrial sites will make way for agro-processing plants to be established to widen the markets for the produce. More so, the residents of Baracara will benefit enormously from such a road making it possible for this village to greatly expand its borders and get immediate access to markets for their produce. This road will also provide impetus to our fledgling tourism industry, more specifically eco-tourism. The flora and fauna are simply breathtaking.
Moreover, there are many such revenue-generating projects which are standing idle simply because of permission not being granted. Businessmen are investing monies and are willing to make huge investments, but ‘red tape and bureaucracy’ are stifling or strangling them. The Finance Minister had promised to remove these fatal obstructions a few Budgets ago, yet they continue to thrive luxuriantly.
In addition, many businessmen have applied for lands to do investments such as cattle rearing and livestock production, but the files are facilitating the reproduction of cobwebs at the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission. Some have moved on with their finances.
The Finance Minister and the Business Minister must take a serious review of these impediments to economic growth.
I am calling on the Government through the Finance Minister and the Business Minister to allow these transformative projects to bear fruit. As an RDC Councillor, I envisage dark days ahead in Region Six if our agriculture-based economy is not given the boost and stimulation it so badly needs.

Yours sincerely,
Haseef Yusuf
RDC Councillor –
Region 6