Farmers urged to practice ‘climate smart’ agriculture

Aug 18, 2011 News

-hundreds get baby chicks, fertilizers, seeds, animals

Government yesterday kick-started the second phase of its “Grow More Food” campaign to hundreds of farmers, warning that current agricultural practice will have to change to meet emerging challenges.
The event also saw hundreds of planting materials, fertilizers, feed, animals, seeds and vouchers for broiler chickens being distributed- an exercise to further prod the industry along.
It was a mad scramble as farmers and others grab hold of plants and seeds yesterday.

Two farmers struggling to remove a swine yesterday during the launch of government’s second phase Grow More Food campaign.

During the launching at the Square of the Revolution, Agricultural Minister, Robert Persaud, announced a number of measures for farmers and fishermen.
Also at the event were President Bharrat Jagdeo and General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party, Donald Ramotar.
The first phase of the campaign was launched in 2008-2009, during a global world food crisis that pushed prices up to record levels. There were unrests in a number of countries and Guyana had introduced the campaign to ensure food security.
According to Persaud, with food prices climbing again, countries face the very real prospect of having money but no food. A market-led approach will ensure that farmers not only feed their families but have enough for the local consumers and surplus for export.
But against this backdrop is the very real threat of climate change. Guyana faces both drought and extremely rainy conditions and any farming will have to be conducted in a “climate smart way”, the official advised.
These include planting and even rearing animals on higher grounds.
Following a crippling $10B annual price cut to sugar by the European Union, and the loss of the lucrative Caribbean trade route for rice in the 90’s, Guyana had repositioned itself to capitalize on other non-traditional crops and a diversification of the sector.
The distribution of the materials and other critical supplies is to ensure that Guyana keeps on the path to ensure agriculture continues its growth, he said.
He warned that chicken producers have until September to increase production to address a current shortage, which has driven prices up.
Farmers, under set pre-conditions, were given sheep, goats and pigs and will have to give two off-springs to other farmers.
Already, huge swaths of lands are being opened up for agricultural projects. These include at Aurora on the Essequibo Coast and in the Savannahs and Intermediate Savannahs.

Fertilizers being distributed yesterday at the Square of the Revolution, Georgetown.

Several large investors have submitted proposals, and for the first time, rice is being grown in a large scale manner at Moco-Moco.
According to the Minister, the last Grow More Food Campaign had seen exports in the non-traditional crops rising by 34%.
Over the next coming weeks, over 100 meetings to promote the Grow More Food campaign will be held, Persaud announced.
As part of the agricultural export development programme, some $6B has been earmarked among other things, to launch funds for farmers, both large and small.
Addressing the farmers, President Jagdeo noted that Guyana is one of the few countries in this part of the hemisphere where agriculture plays a significant role in its gross domestic product.
While government has the responsibilities for providing the policies and infrastructures, these would be useless without the interest from the farmers.
The Head of State warned that while emerging sectors will come, agriculture will have to remain as a key driver of the country’s economy and will demand continuing interests.
But farmers will also have to dig deep and avail themselves to using technology to vastly improve yields and profits.
Government’s project to equip 90,000 families with laptops over the next two years will help bridge the current gap.
Echoing Minister Persaud’s call for farmers to take heed of the climate change challenges, the President noted that rainfall patterns have changed drastically with increasing cases of high-intensity showers.
Government, Jagdeo said, has invested heavily to shore up sea defence like the $1B mangrove project and the US$15M relief channel from the East Demerara Water Conservancy.