Proposed solutions to the impending food crisis of Guyana

Sep 29, 2008 Letters

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DEAR EDITOR,
Today it is advised by the Government of Guyana that all persons who have available land space in their yards should plant such with food crops. I see that sort of thing as undermining the credibility of the farmers of the nation.

One must underscore the reality that during the years of the PNC administrations, such strategies were employed, as well as self help.

Strong administrative control over food stuff was exercised at a government level, as well as control over much of the farming mechanisms was asserted through the applied co-operative system under the concept of paramountcy of the party where the co-operative laws were changed to suit the ideals of the government, while the utilisation of the GMC (Guyana Marketing Corporation) and the KSI (Knowledge Sharing Institute) marketing centers gave the government a form of absolute control over almost all sources of food.
As I did contend then to the Ministry of National Mobilisation, I do contend now that it would not work, and the marketing strategies being exclusively controlled by the Government would lead to stagnation in the agriculture sector, which it did in relation to agricultural food crops.
To adopt a similar approach today certainly is an unwise thing to do. Rather, a move towards liberalizing the co-operative system by way of changing the laws towards a freer co-operative system that would uphold the tenets of private enterprise certainly would be more appropriate.
The creation of a department to assist the farmers in the understanding of law practices pertaining to co-operatives and company business would be more desirous as well as appropriate towards significant development towards intensive cultivation of food crops.
Clearing and preparation of lands for the cultivation of food crops under an empowerment and land development scheme by the Government of Guyana should be put into operation with immediate effect, where such lands would be sold to prospective buyers or, rented to farmers.
Of course such a scheme would require the attention of the law makers and in some cases would require an act of parliament to have such legislations be put into place.
The concept of such land development schemes would not rely upon the small farmer, but persons who are willing to undertake ventures in medium and large scale farming, farming ventures ranging from about 250 to 500 acres of land and upwards.
This idea would certainly garner support from the World Bank, the Inter American Development-Bank, as well as the IMF along with the FOA and the European Union. Such a scheme would not merely be for the development of traditional crops such as rice and sugar cane, but ratherwith an emphasis towards the development of other traditional crops, such as yams, sweet-potatoes, turmeric, as well as semi traditional crops such as plantains, pumpkins, squash, eddoes, dasheens, cassava, breadfruit, breadnut, coconuts, and mangoes.
All of these can find markets in the European Union, especially so that air freight services to that part of the world would be available with the coming into being of the anticipated Euro Air Freight, which would have connecting flights to most of the Caribbean, as well as South America, Central America, and the Pacific countries of the American Coastland.
One can be certain that the banana industry would develop in Guyana unlike that of other countries, where such would be mainly in the hands of the peasant farmers, many of whom generally desire means of developing their husbandry to greater levels. Crops such as pine apples and cashews, both fresh and dried, can find its way to the markets in the European Union.
However, intensive cultivation of food crops in Guyana is the proven solution to the ever increasing dangers of an impending food crisis; as such, a reliant means of reciprocal trade in commodities is the ideal and proven method to such impending crises, since what is achieved at that level is the commercial attributes of intensive cultivation.
To just concentrate upon the issues of the local market for the sale of the local produce would cause redundancy in the nation’s revenue base and invariably would lead to stagnation in the various sectors.
For example, today in the municipal markets one can find black eye peas of a much higher quality than that which is grown locally at a cheaper price; one can clearly underscore the reality that such is the premises towards solving the impending food crisis which faces Guyana, by addressing it in such terms. Because there is a certain amount of risk involved in such land development schemes, which I have mentioned herein, it would be imperative for the government to seek funding for such a scheme from a lender agency such as the Inter American Development Bank, as the Bank does have the backdrop insurances to allow for fair risk allowance, and since the entire affair would involve private interest, the ideal funding agency to approach would be the private sector department of the Inter American Development Bank, and also because such development is imperative not merely to the development of the nation but to its very survival. It is well understandable that other aid agencies would feel an obligation to render assistance in most valuable terms.
R. G. Venton

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