The ‘Grow more food’ scheme is more than a campaign urging persons to grow more food in their yards, but part of a larger initiative aimed at getting the country prepared to invest in long-term food production, President Bharrat Jagdeo said on Saturday evening.
According to a Government Information Agency (GINA) press release, the President addressing a gathering at the ‘Grow more food’ festival at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, said, “Our children are going to grow up into a world that will see increasing shortages. They will face a bigger challenge than the one we face today and if we’re not careful, in the next 30 years, wars would be fought because of the shortage of food around the world.” Jagdeo said too by 2030 that global demands of food will double because of changing diets and growing populations and at the same time, the world’s food supplies are dwindling.
In this light, the President said Guyana and the Caribbean were attempting to address the situation before it escalated by implementing “an appropriate policy response.” However, he noted that more importantly, Guyanese need to be aware of what is occurring around the world as it relates to global warming. “We have seen a change in the weather pattern, we are more prone to adverse weather conditions and the sea is rising and because of the peculiarities of our country, this poses a significant threat to our way of life.”
The President told the crowd that they needed to be cognisant of the ways climate change could affect their way of life and, apart from ensuring local food security he hoped the country would have surplus food to feed the rest of the world, particularly the Caribbean. “This agriculture drive presents an opportunity for many of our young people.
Many of us today see agriculture as just tilling the land but there are so many opportunities in the agricultural sector from research and development to marketing to actual agriculture, to the supply of inputs into the agricultural sector, it’s a whole value chain and we have to ensure that our children find opportunities in this value chain,” he contended.
The President said he hoped citizens could become involved in the type of agriculture “that allows subsistence farming to co-exist with peasant farming and an active stimulation of large-scale agriculture where the three areas combined would create a sustainable industry in Guyana.”
Meanwhile, Minister of Agriculture, Robert Persaud, in his address said the ministry aimed to implement the vision of the President and the government to ensure food security and “to make Guyana a leading agriculture food producer and exporter.” He noted that many farmers have indicated their interest in expanding production and the festival was initiated with this in mind.
According to GINA, several public and private agencies took part in Saturday’s festival showcasing craft and local produce.
A farmer’s market featuring Regions Three, Four and Five farmers, many of whom are exporters, formed part of the exhibit.
Haripaul Bhagwandeo a Region five farmer said he produces a variety of cash crops for the local market and export and that he has been able to expand his business because of enhancements made to the drainage system in his area.
Companies that supply farm equipment and materials including Genequip and Farm Supplies, Farfan and Mendes, Ainlim and Geddes Grant also showcased their products as well as several agencies exhibiting the research and development of agricultural produce.
GINA said the festival also featured live performances by several local artistes, a fashion show and dances.
