Highlighting a menu of measures to achieve food sustainability, Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh said the Irfaan Ali-led administration is focussed on making the necessary investment to propel the sector.
“We are committed to: increasing production and productivity through expansion in acreages and use of technology; diversifying into new crops and varieties; promoting high-value and value-added, including through agro-processing; and easing the access for farmers and consumers to markets,” Singh said as he addressed the National Assembly during his budget presentation on Monday.
Apart from sugar receiving a substantial subvention, government will be investing $349.6 million in the establishment of shrimp farms across the country.
“Mr. Speaker, in 2023, $349.6 million is budgeted for the expansion of brackish water shrimp farms, and the establishment of vannamei shrimp farms,” he announced.
Since 2020, the brackish water shrimp initiative has been promoted by President Ali as an alternative means of earning and employment.
Thirty-three brackish water shrimp farms are currently under operation as a result of investments made over the past year and a half.
“In the face of challenges due to climate change and related factors, government continues to support our fisherfolk and is assiduously working to provide the necessary assistance and technical support to promote innovation and productivity within the marine and aquaculture industries,” Singh added.
Turning his attention to livestock, Singh stated that the sector is poised for further expansion. Through this expansion, there will be simultaneous economic value to under-utilised pasture lands and the creation of further avenues for investment, employment and the bolstering of farm household incomes.
For this year he stated that investment will be made through continuous support of the industry. Plans are afoot for the undertaking of investments to help improve the quality of milk and milk products through better sanitation and hygiene practices, improve the mutton variety and production, establish a bio-secure small ruminant breeding facility and invest in a broiler breeder facility which will reduce the dependency on importation of hatching eggs, the minister outlined.
He went on to say that similarly in crop production, investments will be made in non-traditional agriculture, with particular focus on research and development, and the production of high-value commodities.
Singh told the House that $200 million is budgeted for the expansion of the Agriculture and Innovation Entrepreneurship Programme with the aim of engaging a further 100 new young agri-entrepreneurs and the increase in production of high value crops by 50 per cent.
The minister also announced that the production of spice and citrus will see a budgeted investment of $153 million to improve processing capacity at Hosororo, Parika, and Linden/Soesdyke.
“The improved mechanisation will reduce drying time from 3-5 days to 8 hours daily, directly increasing productivity and targeting over 300 metric tonnes of production of ginger and turmeric.” he said before disclosing that government will expand citrus production through the distribution to 100,000 seedlings to farmers.
Last year, government encouraged the cultivation of ginger and turmeric through the distribution of over 25,000 kilogrammes of ginger and turmeric planting material and 67,997 mixed citrus seedlings (orange, tangerine, lime and lemon) to farmers.
This year’s budgetary allocation will also see investment in the coconut production sector. Singh said they will be introducing a new high yielding and disease resistant coconut variety to farmers with eight demonstration plots to be established in regions Two, Three, Four, Five and Six.
Agriculture infrastructure
Directing his attention to vital infrastructure development in the sector, Singh announced that $19.7 billion will go towards upgrading drainage and irrigation systems across the country.
“Farmers and residents of Meten-Meer-Zorg, Jimbo Grove, Belle Vue, and Letter Kenny, will be direct beneficiaries of new pump stations that will be constructed in these areas. Drainage and irrigation [D&I] upgrades will also benefit farmers and residents across the country, including those at Amazon, Adams Creek, Nabaclis, Golden Grove, Buxton, and Bellamy Canal,” he explained.
He told the House that government recognises the critical importance of adequate, effective, and reliable drainage infrastructure for the safety and security of the people. It has been working relentlessly, he added, towards building climate resilient drainage infrastructure. “Since returning to office, Government has invested over $35.8 billion to upgrade the D&I networks across the country.”
Last year, Singh stressed that D&I works were completed across the country at a total cost of $19.1 billion, in communities such as: Kamuni, Warimina, Troolie Island, Cane Grove, Black Bush Polder, and Goed Intent.
While highlighting some achievements in the sector over the last year, he noted that over 100 tractor-driven pumps were also procured to aid in the alleviation of flooding and $125 million in machinery was commissioned. The minister also pointed out that the government fulfilled the longstanding demand to begin dredging of the Pomeroon River and also advanced works on the construction and rehabilitation of pump stations at Cottage, Black Bush Polder, Canal Number 1, A-Line sluice, Charity, and Cozier.
Moreover, he explained that $150 million will go towards the construction of a wharf in the Tacama area. This wharf will provide critical riverain access to the area currently under cultivation for corn and soya bean. Furthermore, by the end of the first quarter, construction of the drying and storage facility will be completed making it the first such facility in the country. Also, the remaining 7-kilometre stretch of road will also be completed in 2023.
