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$89M packaging facility commissioned
…as Agriculture Month launched
Having a good look! Donald Ramotar viewing the exhibition yesterday
An $89M packaging facility was yesterday commissioned at Parika when the country launched Agriculture Month celebrations.
Under the theme, ‘Growing More for Food Security,’ the agricultural sector will be highlighted during this month.
With a mini-exhibition and display of produce grown and processed in Regions Two and Three, the month of activities kicked off in grand style.
However, even as the celebration of the contribution to the sector begins, Minister of Agriculture, Robert Persaud said that he continues to be disappointed that farmers are not utilising the investments that are made within their regions and communities.
Addressing the gathering yesterday at the Parika Packaging Facility, Persaud said that over the past five years, primarily in the area of crops and livestock, within Regions Two and Three, there has been almost US$17M in investments.
“I am disappointed to say that when we go to some of these areas…we do not see the farmers, who are the beneficiaries, making full use of these facilities.”
Persaud appealed to the farmers to make a much more deliberate effort to use the facilities so that the agriculture sector and their livelihood can be very competitive.
At least 40,000 lbs of produce can be packaged each day at the facility that was commissioned yesterday.
In opening that facility, Persaud noted that poor post harvests can affect the well-being of the sector.
He urged farmers to take greater care of their commodities because the regional and international markets reject damaged produce. Agriculture makes a very significant contribution in the national economy and will continue to do so ever more increasingly in the future.
“It is safe to say it affects the life of every citizen of Guyana and it is a powerful tool to contribute substantially to the reduction of poverty and hunger and to the development of rural areas.”
Such importance, Persaud said, is reflected in the Ministry’s decision to designate October as ‘Agriculture Month.’
“The current global issue is very worrying and challenging for the sector as the country is constantly grappling with the effects of the volatile prices in the international arena.”
Many small island-states and developing nations such as Guyana, he noted, are grappling not only with energy costs and availability, but also the impacts of climate change, and the uncertain investment climate in the developed world where there is a growing level of protectionism in its traditional markets.
This is exacerbated by an unbalanced and uncompetitive approach to agricultural subsidies within those marketplaces.
Persaud highlighted some of the achievements of the agriculture sector during the past year.
Among the achievements is the commissioning of new hatchery at the Satyadeow Sawh Aquaculture Station, and the commissioning of the $409M Dawa Pump Station.
Even as the facility was commissioned yesterday, PPP General Secretary Donald Ramotar expressed his enthusiasm for the expansion and increase of the processing ability of the plant.
The packaging facility is the second of its kind in Guyana.
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