Balram Gangadeen is out of sync with happenings in the Agri. Sector

Mar 17, 2022 Letters

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Dear Editor,

Kaieteur News – I read and re-read the Kaieteur News’ letter, “Agriculture sector being neglected; inquiry needed,” by Balram Gangadeen, and I was angry, but then became amused. What is irksome, is that Gangadeen makes sweeping generalisations, but proffers no evidence for his various positions and analyses. What has driven me to reply is that he states that “… over the last two years, it (Agriculture sector) has been plagued by ineptitude and scandals. Is government setting up the agriculture sector for failure? Is a cabinet reshuffle in the works? Preposterous indeed!”
Quickly, he speaks of “… countless complaints in the media and editorials of the two truly independent publications…” Is this a joke? Just a cursory reading of ‘his supposed two truly independent publications,’ will reveal their biases. In fact, if Gangadeen knows a tiny bit about print journalism, he will be discomfited by the very layout and headlines of his “two truly independent publications…” However, I will not develop this further. I will enumerate his unfounded grouses and ask that he furnish evidence.
His list: an inquiry into the US$12.5 million Enmore Packaging Plant and its lease to a political figure; sheet piling, trawler licensing, approval of Chinese agro-businesses; land grants, GuySuCo fiasco, closure of the four sugar estates; re-tendering of contracts at NDIA, high turnover of staff at NDIA and GuySuCo, pump fiasco, farm relief (attributed to floods), payments for flood works especially for work not done, rice farmers’ paddy payments, among others, etc. Gangadeen is not following the news.
His buttressing statement is that “Rumour has it…” and he names things like “… Money was passed on to friends of politicians followed by kickbacks; GuySuCo operations at LBI will be closed and the staff will be made redundant by this year-end and on and on ad infinitum. I am truly shocked that such a letter was given a place. Irrespective of a position taken, the writer of opinion pieces must substantiate his take on any point contested. So, I will now ask that Gangadeen and company read what I have to say about the agriculture sector currently in Guyana.
First, some $22 billion was allocated to the agriculture sector in the 2022 National Budget, and I think we need grasp this, philosophically and practically, or else we will end up with ‘opposers of development’ who are bent on ‘criticising just for the sake of criticising.’ I recall the President, Dr. Irfaan Ali himself, before the budget was read, saying that Guyana needs investments that will lay the foundation for long-term productivity. He had stated, during a virtual briefing, that agriculture is indeed the “future mainstay” of the Guyanese economy and that his government’s plans for the sector will be reflected in the budget, that was later announced, and that verified his words. In fact, when Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh, did present this year’s National Budget, it was noted that key investments were catered in the subsectors of sugar, fisheries, rice, livestock and crop cultivation, and to much-needed drainage and irrigation.
What is important to note is that Guyana is moving away from the antiquated forms of agriculture very rapidly. So, indeed the country will continue to pursue agricultural production but not in the traditional sense; instead, according to President Ali, “… there is a concerted effort being placed in promoting agro-business.” For example, there is now ongoing the recently launched youth Agriculture and Innovation Entrepreneurship Programme, which is allowing young people to collaborate and tap into the multibillion dollar market for the broccoli, cauliflower and carrots initially…more will follow.
Another factor for the hefty financial input in the agriculture sector is that of sugar. As we know, the sugar industry was decimated by the previous regime, and now it is cranking up and gathering momentum, but in a diversified manner. So, the $6 billion allocation, made specifically for the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) is more than necessary and fully justified. Presenter, Dr. Singh, noted that this will be “… to support GuySuCo’s ongoing investment in field and factory operations to “turn around the industry” as the country seeks to engage private investor interest also in some of the estates.” This translates into livelihoods for thousands, and a case in point the Enmore Packaging Plant.
Now, as it pertains to this move, it redounds to more jobs overall, as the said Enmore Packaging Plant will move to Albion. As President Irfaan Ali explained, the government is in no way ‘selling out’ assets. This move is fully justified if only for the sake of ‘more jobs and greater economic development’ as these will now be possible through this consolidation of the Enmore Packaging Plant on the East Coast of Demerara, with the Albion Packaging Facility in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne). Both Enmore and Albion are happy when it comes to the employment situation. So, I am wondering why all the ‘fuss and fret?’
I just love when Agriculture Minister Mustapha silenced the heckling of Opposition Member of Parliament, Sherod Duncan, who challenged him to say what the government has done to reverse the closure of the sugar estates. I mean, how come such a question? The evidence is living daily across Guyana. We all know that some of the estates, once closed, are now up and running, and in the near future, “Tens of thousands of (more) jobs will be created, and we will help tens of thousands of families. We (are) putting in the village economies more cash and thousands of people are benefitting, not only the sugar workers, but people who live in the communities and who depend on the sugar industry indirectly.” A terse response indeed from the minister.
Backing this talk even further, Zulfikar Mustapha, told the National Assembly that the agriculture sector is expected to make major leaps, with the introduction of new technology, particularly in the rice industry. In fact, he boasted that the country is in the process of testing its ‘bio-fortified’ rice, a modified version, which was developed to include additional nutrients or supplements. A double whammy is this, as according to the Minister… “this variety will not only be healthier, but also attract a “lucrative price” as Guyana would be the only CARICOM country producing such quality.”
Look at this? “The supplement that doctors order patients to buy, the zinc supplement, we are now growing it in that rice. That rice will attract lucrative and preferential price… we are in the third trial now and very shortly that will come out,” the minister informed. I need not say anymore, as we can see that there is the modernising the rice sector.
So, it is a silly thing to ask: “Is it government’s policy to destroy the Agriculture sector? Isn’t it time for an inquiry into neglect of agriculture? Mr. Gangadeen needs to at least follow the news.

Yours truly,
H. Singh

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