Dear Editor,
I am travelling in China at the moment and have been following the issue of the rise in the price of food and other essential commodities around the world, and at home in particular. I note also the civil unrest in sections of our country regarding this same issue and the President’s intervention measures.
How does China fare in all of this? A few years ago, when the FAO warned about a world food crisis, China went immediately to the drawing board and a massive agricultural drive was launched. China is more than 95% self-sufficient. It is understood that surplus from the economic boom is re-invested in agriculture. Their planning was not only timely but innovative.
How do we fare in Guyana? The fact is that the majority of our population are low income earners. The price of imported food will continue to rise and the New Guyana Marketing Corporation exercise of selling flour in the streets is only a stop-gap measure. Restricting the export of rice and increasing export taxes on that commodity will only aggravate the situation causing cross-border smuggling. The rice price in China is the same as in Guyana – $6,000 per 100lb bag! Even though rice is a staple here, the consumption is small per person, because they eat more vegetables and meat, and thus have a reduced level of obesity and diabetes.
Sharing out plant seeds will not mean that farmers will plant them. Something more concrete needs be done. A comprehensive agricultural programme needs to be launched urgently where all the bright and experienced minds from the rice, sugar, cash-crop, poultry, etc, sub-sectors are consulted. The high duties on poultry should be removed immediately so that the poor can afford a cheap source of protein, thus a less dependence on more expensive flour and rice. State earnings from the poultry sector are not significant, and the greater part of the population will appreciate this. Flour has already been de-monopolised. Competi-tion will level things out.
China still has state transport available to the lower income level people. In Guyana we do not need to go back to Tata days, but having large modern buses plying the Vreed-en-Hoop – Parika, Charity – Supenaam, George-town – South Ruimveldt, Georgtown – Rosignol, Georgetown – Timehri, etc, routes will help the less fortunate. A manageable fleet of, say, fifteen buses can be factored into this plan. The mechanics can be worked out. It is amazing also to see in an emerging economy such as China how appropriate technology is neatly blended into society. Three-wheeler motorcycles are very popular and are a less costly farm-to-market and passenger form of transport. There is great potential for job creation here. Imagine heavier vehicles around the wharves and markets being replaced by this cheaper option. Today’s Yahoo news says that bicycle sales and repairs has increased as a result of rising fuel prices.
Guyana should vigorously pursue investment in agriculture, especially from Trinidad. A large amount of ground provisions, cash crops, etc, are imported by Trinidad from Grenada and Dominica. Visit Queen’s Wharf there on Wednesdays and Thursdays and witness the trade.
The financial sector is complaining of excessive liquidity and the agri-sector is complaining about lack of funding.
What about our aquaculture? Is this a cheaper option to deep sea fishing and shrimping?
Medical care is pretty decent at the moment. Education in public schools is a problem. Too many have to depend on private education which is costly to the ordinary man.
Yours faithfully,
J Ramdass