A DIRE NEED FOR AMPLE INCENTIVES

Aug 24, 2016 Editorial, Features / Columnists

The Ministry of Agriculture definitely needs to come up with more initiatives to develop that struggling sector which we have acknowledged, ad nauseum, is vital to our existence in so many ways.
Agriculture is our livelihood; it has contributed significantly to the country’s GDP, foreign exchange earnings, employment and, last but by no means least, food security. It has close links to tourism and other sub-sectors of the economy.
However, its sustainability has been threatened by the lack of interest by previous governments to expand the sector beyond sugar, rice, cash crop fruits and vegetables. Over the years, the agriculture sector has been left stranded by an absence of imagination and idea-deficiency. What should have been a happy and rewarding marriage between opportunities in agriculture and job creation appears to be permanently fractured.
Agriculture is important for the development of any country. With Guyana having a high youth population, expansive land and other natural resources, it is important for the administration to find effective solutions to boost the sector.
Ample incentives to advance agricultural development – with a focus on utilizing the multi-talents of youths – have not been provided. There is a dire need for such incentives. Providing work that is satisfying and has the potential to see the young ones earning decent incomes, remains paramount – and we insist, nowhere better than in the area of agriculture. To reduce youth poverty, deliberate and determined investments in jobs above starvation wages must be paid to them.
The fact that globalization has opened new avenues for doing business, means that the government has to consistently encourage youths to be more involved in agriculture. Indeed, globalization has brought new opportunities for many workers, especially those who are well educated, and have the skills needed in the high-tech global economy.
It has also deepened insecurity and poverty for those without skills, including the large numbers of young adults in the country. As a result, it should go without saying that the agriculture sector should be expanded to employ the youths. But the established practice of talk and more talk with very little action from governments is a dereliction of duty that has practically ruined the country’s agricultural potential, as it has in other sectors.
More must be done to help the citizenry to acquire the necessary skills, and to encourage all and sundry, particularly the able-bodied, to contribute to production. The Government should not be working alone; it should partner with the private sector and provide liberal incentives to advance the cause.
With Guyana’s rich soil and near perfect weather, it should not even be a challenge for the nation to find effective solutions to bolster the agriculture sector. Youths must indeed be encouraged to become active advocates, planners, and policymakers to help boost output.
Studies show that youths are three times more likely than adults to be out of a job, therefore, it is not surprising that the high youth unemployment has hurt their prospects and more broadly in this sense, the sector. Guyana can ill afford to be negligent with its food security and its youths given the inherent challenges faced by small developing states.
The private sector also has a pivotal role to play in the development of the agriculture sector. It creates small enterprises that will sustain the jobs necessary for people to work and earn the income needed to survive.
Clearly, the government and the private sector cannot fail our youths. Urgent action is needed to address the needs of our young people and the plight of agriculture. The key is that agriculture is vital to the country’s existence and the drive must begin with the youths.

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