Dear Editor,
It is nice to have another oil conference with other topics in Guyana. When one examine Guyana’s contribution to the oil explorers of the world, Exxon, the irresistible conclusion is that Guyana, bearing the costs of Exxon’s wealth, is a subsidy and alms given by a neo colonial economic investor. The billions of dollars rendered to Exxon and its associates leave the farmers of Guyana as mud rats seeking to eke out a living from mother Earth whilst facing the disaster of flood, drought and low market price of their products; yet there is articulated policy of food security in Guyana and the region.
May it be pointed out that the rice farmers are at the mercy of the monopolistic rice millers who arbitrarily fix prices in order to bolster their profits to the detriment and pain of rice producers. The farmers for example; loans are given by the millers to farmers at high interest rate. The inputs, that is, fertilizer and all the accompanying necessary treatment for pest control are purchased at astronomical prices, yet the GRDB, the RPA, remain impotent in their aid to these unfortunate body of farmers in Guyana who continue to dwell in debt and lean income.
To correct this pain and shame it is herein suggested:
1. That the Government have feasible prices and purchase the farmers goods in order to create a food bank in preparation for times of disaster.
2. Like the USA, the Government ought to subsidise substantially, the farmers as is done in the oil industry of Guyana.
3. Cold storage systems for cash crops farmers and cottage industries therefor ought to be set up at the instance of the Government that has the required capital, so to do to aid in the manufacturing and storage of farmers’ crops that go to waste in times of plenty.
4. The farmers must be encouraged to continue to cultivate the conventional crops in which they are knowledgeable and have market value, for example, aloe vera – now in world demand, neem, Sijan and cash crops, the various nuts, pineapples, the seeds of pumpkin are now in world demand due to its now known nutritional value, cassava – sweet and bitter.
5. It is herein suggested that the abandoned sugar plantation with its drainage and irrigation system should be harnessed for artisanal fishing, shrimp and other aquatic food.
6. The land should be given out to farmers and youths that are trained, or being trained with farmers, to cultivate coconuts, cash crops, peas, beans and lentils as the coconut plants are growing. This will create jobs and all of the villages and neighbourhoods of Guyana will contribute substantially to the food security goals that is now adumbrated with frequent articulation and publicity. Let subsidy to the farmers be paramount, harness the potential energy of the youths who do not have capital, then Guyana will attain the status of an agrarian democracy.
Sincerely,
J.T. Kissoon
