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NAREI gets $1.24B to diversify and improve production in Agri. sector
Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha.
Kaieteur News – The National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) will get a $1.24B injection this year to further diversify the country’s production base and ensure food security. The budget, which is $33M more than what was allocated in the previous year will allow for several agriculture distribution programmes to rural and hinterland communities to not only restarted, but also revamped. New ones would be added too.
Expounding on the foregoing initiatives, Agriculture Minister, Mustapha Zulfikar, was quick to note that over 5,000 packets of seeds were distributed to small-scale farmers after restarting the Seed Distribution Programme in 2020, while adding that the government plans to double this in 2021 to benefit over 2,000 farmers.
With respect to Acoushi ant baits, which are used to control pineapple ants, the official noted that NAREI had produced and distributed 5,125 packs of the baits in 2020 and over 20,000 packs of these will be distributed to over 1,000 farmers in 2021.
As for the National Fogging Programme, Mustapha said that this has been resuscitated and the first areas to benefit included the Canals Polder, Laluni, Linden/Soesdyke Highway, Pauruni, and the Berbice area. In 2021, he said that this will be improved with the purchase of 10 new fogging machines.
In addition to the Fertilizer Distribution programme being restarted, the Minister was keen to note that 2021 will see $335 Million being invested to develop the Farm Implement Programme in Regions One, Eight and Nine. He said too that the government will be purchasing agricultural equipment inclusive of 25 tractors and trailers and five tractors with disc ploughs, roam ploughs and seed planters, among others in support of the said programme.
Furthermore, Minister Mustapha said that plans are in place to kick-start a Production Support Initiative worth $51 Million under the Agriculture Sector Development Unit (ASDU), which was created in 2007 with input from the Inter-American Development Bank to manage multiple donor-funded projects within the sector. The programme will see over 450 farmers in Regions Two, Three, Four, Five, Six and 10 benefitting from non-cash assistance for planting materials, breeding stock and technical assistance.
Minister Mustapha noted as well that NAREI will take a special interest to ensure the use of ‘climate smart’ production in the years to come. In 2020, he noted that the Institute had invested $15 Million in shade-house materials and sprinkler irrigation, which will soon be available for farmers to purchase at a subsidized cost. The Minister was keen to note that this will result in the construction of over 100 shade houses in 2021.
Considering the foregoing plans in place for 2021, the official confidently stated that NAREI is on track to ensuring the nation’s food security objectives while increasing the production base.
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