The Ministry of Agriculture, in partnership with Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) on Monday hosted a cassava and small ruminant validation seminar, in fulfilment of the third component of the Agriculture Policy Programme (APP), which aims to develop enterprises through improved market linkages.
The meeting, held at the Regency Hotel on Hadfield Street, targeted farmers from across the country and focused on building their capacity and engaging them on the validation of the analysis of constraints and opportunities in Guyana, according to the Government Information Agency (GINA).
“Guyana is one of several countries to benefit from the AAP, a programme funded under the 10th European Development Fund (EDF) between the European Commission (EC) and the IICA as the implementing agency. The Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI), and the CARICOM Secretariat are partners in the implementation,” GINA said.
Launched in 2013, the APP has a four-year duration and its central aim is boosting agriculture in the CARIFORUM countries through the development of small holder agricultural producers and entrepreneurs. “Small farmers, fisher-folk, small-scale processors and traders, including organised associations and networks and women and youth are among the beneficiaries,” the report said.
Minister of Agriculture Dr Leslie Ramsammy said while there have been some challenges in implementing the programme, he is optimistic that it can meet its goals and objectives. The programme is critical to continuing the Region’s development, he said, even as it continues to confront global, regional and national challenges.
The minister also spoke of the importance of capacity building among agriculture entrepreneurs. “I tend to stay away as much as possible from using the term farmers…we have come to separate farming from other businesses. Farming is an entrepreneurial activity like any other business activity. For too long in our country, farming has been thought of as peasant activity, and it is time that we abandon that notion,” he said. The APP focuses on the business of farming and its critical importance to the economy. Agriculture has played a significant role in Guyana’s economic and social development and farmers have been recognised for that role.
Dr Ramsammy noted that the Region has a high import bill and much of what is imported can be produced here. “It is for me an embarrassment that we import mutton and lamb and small ruminant products into this region, it is an embarrassment that we must bring to an end…this region can produce all of the small ruminant meat and products that we need, and indeed we can produce enough to meet our demands and develop greater market to generate greater wealth,” he said.
Meanwhile, Head of the Delegation of the European Union in Guyana Ambassador Robert Kopecky said Guyana is leading in the push to self-sustainability in agriculture production in the Caribbean. He also acknowledged that while the programme has had some initial challenges, the seminar marks a step forward in its implementation. He said too the EU and IICA are embarking on another programme, which has to do with sanitary and phyto-sanitary measures, and which is also financed in the framework of the 10th EU fund worth €165M. The two programmes have a combined value of €20.3M and signal the EU’s commitment in partnering with the Caribbean in agriculture.
At the meeting, an agreement was also signed between the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) and CARDI to develop commodities such as cereal, greens, legumes and pepper and the improvement of germ plasm.
