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Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) are aiming to reduce the region’s food Import Bill by 25 per cent by 2025. The region’s Import Bill, at 2020 was estimated at US$8-10 billion. According to the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) the undernourished population in the region stood at 16.5 percent in 2017. However, the pandemic has reversed the number.
A United Nations’ report said hunger in Latin America and the Caribbean is at its highest point since 2000, after a 30 per cent increase in the number of people suffering hunger from 2019 to 2020. According to the Regional Overview of Food Security and Nutrition 2021, in just one year, and in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of people living with hunger increased by 13.8 million, reaching a total of 59.7 million people.
Guyana, in 1970, under the Forbes Burnham government had embarked on massive infrastructural development to advance food self-sufficiency at home and reach the aspiration of being the region’s Food Basket. Below are some of the major achievements in agriculture under the People’s National Congress (PNC) government that sought to position the country in that direction.
Development strategy:
A major goal of the PNC government was food self-sufficiency and food security. To this end, the administration relentlessly pursued programmes that produced food both for export and local consumption, utilising Guyana’s geological advantages.
Sea defence:
Because Guyana’s coastline is about six feet below sea level, the drainage and irrigation system including the construction of a dam across the Abary river, at a cost of over US$100M, was mainly for the productive of rice with a section identified for dairy and the spin-off effect to existing beef cattle ranchers and gamers involved in coconuts, root crops and fruits.
The project was the largest drainage and irrigation scheme constructed in Guyana and is being managed by the Mahaica Mahaicony Abary – Agricultural Development Authority.
On the Essequibo Coast there was the Tapkuma Irrigation Project (TIP). According to the World Bank:
“The project would consist mainly of improving, rehabilitating and extending irrigation and drainage systems serving 41,750 acres (net) of rice land along the Essequibo Coast. The project would help Guyana to increase rice production and exports, and thereby increase farmer income. The main project works are summarised below:
“ (a) construction, rehabilitation and expansion of irrigation systems and interceptor and facade drains; (b) construction of 6 drainage pumping stations; (c) construction of a flood protection dike along the Pomeroon River; (d) construction of 4 sea sluices and repair of an existing sluice in the Supenaam Extension Area; (e) construction of regulators, tail-gates, checks, irrigation inlets and drainage outlets for individual farms;
“(f) reinforcement and expansion of the conservancy dam and reservoir in the Johanna Cecilia Extension Area; (g) construction of 2 reservoir relief sluices and a discharge channel in the Johanna Cecilia Extension Area; (h) construction and rehabilitation of all-weather access roads and related structures; (i) land leveling of about 20,000 acres presently under rice cultivation, and clearing and land leveling of about 7,000 acres of bush land; and (j) improvement and expansion of extension services in the project area.”
Beef cattle development:
In 1970 the PNC government submitted a proposal to the World Bank for a loan of US$4.4 million to be made available to beef cattle ranchers for the development of beef cattle farms throughout Guyana. The project was approved in 1972.
A significant aspect of the project was that for the first time, lands would be leased to participants for 25 years with the right of renewable for another 15 years.
In addition, technical assistance will be provided by a government project team in the application to the local bank of the participant’s choice. To ensure management was available, a select group of graduates from the Guyana School of Agriculture (GSA) and ranch workers from the Amerindian communities were trained as ranch managers for two years in an institution in the USA. Participants could be companies, individuals, or cooperatives.
National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI):
To enhance good self-sufficiency the PNC government established the National Dairy Development Programme (NDDP) to increase the production of milk and to improve national nutrition. The project involved the free artificial insemination of dairy farmers’ cows and assistance in establishment of pastures. It also included assistance in farm management such as milk sanitation, milk collection and transportation to the milk plant for pasteurization.
Fisheries:
Guyana has had a thriving and well-developed fish and shrimping industry but at the level of the same fishermen the transportation, time and storage of fish have been a long-standing problem. The PNC, with the assistance of the Government of Canada, developed a project through which a facility was constructed to assist the fishermen in Corentyne- Region 6 to provide them with ice, improved mooring and storage, resulting in improved marketing. In addition, the PNC government vigorously encouraged individuals and other entities to grow tilapia in backyard ponds or as cooperative ventures.
Wildlife trade:
It was the PNC government that organised this into an industry to meet international standards. With the assistance of the international organisation, Convention of International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES) surveys were done in Guyana’s wildlife permitted for exports, and a quota was established. This quota was divided among exporters. In addition, government personnel examined facilities where wildlife was kept prior to export to ensure the conditions were in keeping with the regulations.
Others:
In addition to the above, there were also the Ham Factory, the Burnham School of Agriculture, Regional Centre for the Education and Training of Animal Health and Veterinary Public Health Assistants (REPAHA) Fishermen’s Coop Society, among others.
