As part of its plans to improve the agriculture sector, the government will be engaging an additional 100 youths through the Agriculture and Innovation Entrepreneur-ship Programme (AIEP) to increase production of high value crops, and also establish two new agro-processing facilities in Region Six.
During the 2023 budget presentation on Monday, Minister of Finance Dr Ashni Singh, said that through the AIEP over 100 students were engaged in shade house farming, growing crops such as broccoli, cauliflower, carrots and romaine and iceberg lettuce last year.
At the end of the year the programme saw 120 shade houses constructed to support the production of high value crops across the country and over 16 metric tonnes of vegetables produced. He noted that the government also rolled out a fresh flower project which saw the production of 2,551 roses. This initiative created employment and generated income for single parents.
As a result, the AIEP will continue this year. Approximately $200 million is budgeted for the expansion of the AIEP with the aim of engaging an additional 100 new young agri-entrepreneurs and increasing the production of these high value crops by 50 percent.
Singh subsequently stated that the agro-processing sector is a critical element of government’s push for enhanced food security and broad-based sustainable economic growth.
“Through adding value to primary production, agro-processing not only helps to improve household agriculture income but also enhances the potential for growth in export earnings. Government is therefore committed to continue efforts to support and promote investments in agro-processing,” he said.
This year, the government plans to invest in new agro-processing facilities in Crabwood Creek and Orealla; construct a new cold storage facility in Bartica; as well as procure two new refrigerated trucks to support transport of inputs and agro products.
According to Singh, agro processors will also benefit from the establishment of another Guyana Shop and a marketing information centre in Bartica which is expected to provide strong impetus to agro-processing and value-added food production.
The finance minister disclosed that the agri-business incubators were established in Parika, Fort Wellington, St. Ignatius and Watooka while the procurement of equipment for the agro-processing and packaging facilities at Sophia, Parika, and Mabaruma was advanced last year. He added that new processing facilities at White Water Creek and Charity were also established and should be commissioned during the first quarter of this year.
