A total of $1.9 billion has been proposed to continue the diversification of the agriculture sector in this year’s budget blueprint, and emphasis is to be placed on fulfilling the international trade requirements for both crops and livestock.
The allocation proposed for the sector is about $900 million more than last year and during his presentation of government’s proposed 2013 budget yesterday in the National Assembly, Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh said government remains committed to creating the needed environment to sustain Guyana’s position as the Caribbean leader in agricultural production.
Singh announced that work on new regulations for fisheries, traceability of both crops and livestock, and animal welfare, which are all necessary in order to fulfil international trade requirements, would be pursued this year. He said this is part of continuing legislative initiatives to ensure that an adequate regulatory framework is established to guide and support the advancement of the sector.
Outlining the plans, Singh revealed that the design was completed early this year for the 5,500 acres of uncultivated land in the Aurora area and he said work will commence to clear the land, in preparation for livestock rearing, and production of rice, citrus and other vegetables. In the fisheries sector, he added, emphasis will be placed upon certifying sustainable fishing practices in an effort to qualify for higher export prices. In addition, production for export will commence at the newly established tilapia farms, with a view to significantly increase tilapia production.
Singh also said support for diversification in the sector will also come from strengthening infrastructure. In this regard, he noted that a Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory will be constructed at Mon Repos, while a hatchery to increase production of ducklings will be established and additional drainage works will be undertaken at Canal Polder.
He added that $500 million is also allocated to fund the establishment of a farmer fertiliser and planting material facility, which will ensure access to quality planting materials and other inputs including fertiliser and enhanced extension services. This intervention, he revealed, will boost and strengthen food production and will target more than 3,000 farmers, and reinvigorate what he described as “the highly successful” Grow More Food campaign.
Singh noted that in keeping with the drive to promote large-scale private investment in agriculture, a landmark private sector investment has resulted in a 30,000 acre integrated farm at Santa Fe. “Once Phase 1 of the project is completed, the intention is to expand production beyond cultivation of rice, soya beans and cow peas, and rearing of cattle, sheep and goats, to include permanent fruits and large scale aquaculture. Like the rice, other produce will also be mainly exported to Brazil, where the technology that is being used to develop the farm originated,” he added.
In order to benefit from Guyana’s full potential to accelerate agricultural development, Singh announced an investment in building the country’s human resource base. “During the course of the year, training in aquaculture production will be imparted to 250 persons nationwide, and local specialists will benefit from training in seed technology and germplasm development,” he explained.
Meanwhile, in the area of drainage and irrigation, Singh said $6.5 billion would be budgeted for various works, which would represent a decrease from last year’s expenditure. He said the spending would cover the final payments towards the acquisition of fixed irrigation pumps, the construction and rehabilitation of pumps and pump stations in regions 3, 4, 5 and 6, the completion of the Hope Canal and associated drainage structures, the rehabilitation of intake structures at Ann’s Grove, Hope, Annandale and Nancy, the excavation of outfall channels in the regions, the rehabilitation of pontoons and excavators and relief sluices such as those at Maduni and Sarah Johanna.
“This year would also see the completion of a safety and feasibility analysis of the East Demerara Water Conservancy Dam where the existing earthen dam and structures will be evaluated and recommendations made for necessary improvements,” he said, while adding that an analysis would be completed for villages along the East Coast Demerara which are vulnerable to flooding and recommendations presented. Added to that, a plan for operating the conservancy and a detailed list of works for improving the conservancy flows and discharge will be completed this year, he said.
