The future for Essequibo may be in coconuts, President Donald Ramotar said yesterday, while urging farmers in the county to work with the PPP/C administration to expand and diversify the agriculture sector.
Ramotar made the call as he addressed a massive crowd at a PPP/C rally at Damon Square, Anna Regina, Essequibo, a Government Information Agency (GINA) report said.
Ramotar, the report said, pointed out that his administration will be looking to realise the full potential of the coconut industry. Towards this end, he noted that the administration will need the help of the small farmers to do so and that Essequibo has great potential when it comes tothe coconut industry. “We want to continue to broaden the base of our country.
We are known for sugar and rice, but we have possibilities in other areas; coconut, for instance, is a huge possibility and it can become as important as rice and sugar, already we are exporting coconut water,” he said.
Ramotar also recounted a visit to Sri Lanka, where he had a firsthand look at the possibilities for the coconut industry and he said Guyana could start thinking along the line of plantation style coconut farming.
Ramotar also spoke of the possibilities of soya bean and corn farming locally, and a big livestock industry as he addressed the diversification of the agriculture sector. These, he told residents, will add to the agro-industry while at the same time improving the quality of local food. He added that if carefully planned and executed, the agriculture sector could add more to national development as Guyana can soon move towards exporting more to the region and further afield.
Ramotar also addressed the rice industry and announced that the government would be putting a system in place to mitigate the effect of fluctuating paddy prices, the report said.
He also acknowledged the fact that the industry has had its fair share of challenges but noted that it has nevertheless held its own.
