The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of United Nations yesterday afternoon commissioned its new permanent office, which will boost its ability to efficiently offer support to Guyana’s agriculture and food security programmes.
The building, located at the Ministry’s Agriculture Complex at La Bonne Intention, East Coast Demerara (the former GuySuCo compound), was renovated at a cost of $5 million.
At the commissioning, FAO Country Representative Dr Gillian Smith said the office was completely renovated to fit the needs of the staff and the organisation. She pointed out that with its modern styling, it offers comfort and space and will enable staff to be more effective and efficient in their delivery of programmes and support to the sector. In addition the building was retrofitted to include large windows and bright spaces, a move that will see the office reducing its energy consumption. Since 2007, the FAO was given approval to set up a permanent office here. Their first location was inside the Hydrometeorological building at 18, Brickdam, Georgetown.
Delivering brief remarks at the commissioning, Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha said that the government will continue to partner with international agencies to advance the country’s agricultural programme and development.
Mustapha also noted that by working with the FAO, it is Guyana’s aim to return to the helm of the Caribbean bread basket and reduce the heavy importation bill the Caribbean has.
“We have the opportunity to tap into the import market of the Caribbean and FAO can be a helping partner. Guyana is once again taking its rightful place in the Caribbean. We have had history and legacy of pushing agriculture in CARICOM, we with the help of FAO to develop strategies to advance food the security agenda and needs, we can work to resolve issues of food security in the Caribbean,” Mustapha underscored.
While congratulating the FAO on the new office, he announced that in the coming months, government will be seeking the assistance of the agency to aid in the development of strategies that will boost the capabilities of different sectors.
He noted that this year, the Ministry of Agriculture is preparing to launch its master plan for aquaculture and looking to tap into cultivation of new and nontraditional crops. These developments, he emphasised, will require support from the FAO.
