Guyana inches closer to food security, climate resilient with Agri. Sector’s $15B investment at Half-Year

Sep 18, 2022 News

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=Social Edge=

– cultivation of turmeric, ginger, nutmeg to be expanded
– Value Added Laboratory operational
– 953 farmers trained in sustainable practices

By Kiana Wilburg

Kaieteur News – Even as the country faces a confluence of challenges ranging from climate change to supply disruptions stemming from the ongoing war in Ukraine, the Ministry of Agriculture has remained focused on its long term goal of building a more resilient industry and self-sufficient nation.

This was evident with its prudent management of investments over the past six months to improve production across various subsectors. During the first half of 2022, the Ministry spent $15.8B of the $32.6B budgeted this year.

This expenditure has kept the Ministry on track towards expanding cultivation and production to reduce imports and fostered diversification despite, the La Niña weather conditions that prevailed. It also paved the way for the construction of major infrastructure, the procurement of key equipment and machinery, and the establishment of necessary systems and partnerships.

Using statistics provided by the 2022 Mid-Year Report, the Social Edge will examine the performance of the respective subsectors and the plans in place for their growth.

SUGAR

At the end of June 2022, Government admitted that the sector’s projected growth contracted. Be that as it may, the administration said it contributed $2B to the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) to advance projects slated this year to support the smooth operation of the industry.

Works during the first half of the year were undertaken at the factories at Albion, Blairmont, Uitvlugt and Rose Hall. Improvement to the Albion Estate included upgrading of a knife turbine, replacement of mill rollers, and an overhaul of one of the main diesel generators. At Blairmont, the crushers and mill rollers are being replaced, and the sugar wharf is being rehabilitated.

Works at Uitvlugt included the replacement of the feeder table and the rehabilitation of a boiler. At Rose Hall, a complete rehabilitation of the factory is being undertaken. Further, works were advanced for the conversion of the fields for machine harvesting and rehabilitation of the access dams at all four of the estates.

The Government also said that works have also progressed on the packaging plants slated for Albion and Blairmont. This is in an effort to support the State’s intention for value added sugar production.

As part of the administration’s programme to continue partnering with private investors, it was noted that the process commenced to lease 100 hectares of land to private cane farmers and is expected to conclude by the end of 2022. This will bring total acreage of sugar cane cultivated by private farmers to 2,157 hectares.

RICE

In the first half of 2022, Government recalled that the cultivation of paddy required expanded support due to the adverse weather conditions and the increase in the prices for fertiliser. In this regard, its quick response to the drainage and irrigation challenges helped to contain the impact on rice production in the first crop. These interventions included clearing of canals and drains, heightening of the embankment of conservancy dams, canals and drains, and maintaining and constructing related structures.

At half year, government also noted that 139 farmers benefitted from relief totalling $58.4 million to assist in their recovery after the 2021 floods.

Furthermore, the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) continued to support farmers in pest management and crop husbandry.

GRDB also spent $107.5 million to create a variability and breeding nursery and conduct experiments in harvesting, crop nutrition and soil fertility disease resistance screening as well as a study on paddy bug management.

Additionally, The Waterfalls understands that the Value Added Laboratory became operational in March 2022 while research on rice and rice products progressed to working with bakeries to commercially produce bread and pastries from rice flour.

OTHER CROPS

In this area, Government said it expended $651.9M of the $1.3B budgeted for the year. This allocation allowed for the completion of 109 shade houses, and the construction of four green houses as part of Guyana’s implementation of climate-smart agriculture practices.

In addition, preparation commenced for the expanded cultivation of turmeric, ginger, black pepper, nutmeg and onions, which will allow self-sufficiency in the production of spices. It is expected that by the end of 2022, 62 acres of turmeric and 633 acres of ginger will be in cultivation.

Further, Government said it will continue to provide shade house materials to farmers at a reduced cost, and increase the distribution of farm equipment, seeds and seedlings, chemicals, and fertilisers. Importantly, the delivery of extension services will be restructured, in order to provide improved services to farmers.

At the end of the review period, 953 farmers were trained in sustainable agricultural practices. Also, 83 farms were certified to produce wholesome foods and agricultural commodities for export.

Another 3602 cash-crops-farmers, also received $431.7 million in relief grants to assist with their recovery from the 2021 floods.

CORN AND SOYA

The implementation of the project to expand the production of corn and soya progressed in the first half of the year. At the end of June, 250 acres of soya were cultivated while another 2,450 acres will be cultivated in the second half.

Construction of the foundation and installation of the corn and soya bean processing plant will commence in the second half and is expected to be completed by February 2023. The Waterfalls understands that this will provide a drying and storage facility for the corn and soya farmers in the Tacama area.

In addition, to increase farmers’ access to the Tacama area, a 47 kilometre road is being constructed from Ituni to Tacama. Under Phase 1 of the Ituni-Tacama road, construction of 18 kilometres is currently underway and expected to be completed in the second half of 2022. Phase 2 of the Ituni-Tacama road will see an additional 29 kilometres being completed, which is expected to commence in the second half of the year.

COCONUTS

At the end of June 2022, The Waterfalls noted that $34.6M of the budgeted $66M was expended to increase coconut cultivation and production. The national effort to expand the production of coconut water and coconut-based products has seen success with a 58 percent increase in the production of coconuts to 27,598 tonnes in the first half of 2022, compared with the first half of 2021.

Government’s National Coconut Decentralisation Programme was also implemented across the country to provide technical support and low-cost access to coconut seedlings.

In the first half of 2022, Government constructed a coconut nursery at Fort Wellington, Region 5, and will complete the construction of two coconut nurseries in Hosororo, Region 1 and Lethem, Region 9, by the end of the year.

Together, these three new nurseries will bring the total number of decentralised nurseries to 10 with a production capacity of 206,000 seedlings annually. The coconut seedlings production for the first half of 2022 was 21,566 compared with 18,306 in the first half of 2021.

HIGH-VALUE CROPS

In continuing the effort to provide employment opportunities to young people, at the half year, the Government’s Agriculture and Innovation Entrepreneurship Programme saw 50 agriculture graduands access the recently constructed shade houses, with another 50 graduands slated to benefit by the end of the year.

This programme is slated to transform the livelihoods of these youths while increasing the cultivation of high value-crops such as broccoli, cauliflower, bell peppers and carrots

LIVESTOCK

In the review period, the Guyana Livestock Development Authority expended $406.6 million of the 2022 budgeted sum of $842.3 million. Government said it used the funds to complete preliminary works to support investments in a swine facility at Garden of Eden.

This included construction of a fence, bridge and access road. Negotiations with a private investor are in progress for the management and operation of the facility.

In addition, in the first half of 2022, Government distributed 1,050 broiler chicks, 1,150 black giant chicks and 595 ducklings and provided technical support to farmers. Also, to assist with the recovery after the 2021 floods, 1,050 farmers received $57M in relief grants.

FISHERIES

Following its expenditure of $142.7M at half year, Government’s strategic interventions and programmes translated into increased aquaculture production of 444.1 percent in the first half compared with the same period in 2021.

Additionally, at mid-year, brackish-water shrimp production increased by 292.6 percent which was a direct result of Government’s expanded brackish-water shrimp production programme.

This intervention has resulted in the rehabilitation of over 673 acres of shrimp farms, benefitting over 28 shrimp farmers, while contributing to the diversification of the fisheries industry.

Furthermore, the upgrade of the Satyadeow Sawh Aquaculture Station and the establishment of cage culture in Region 2 for tambaqui production commenced in the first half of 2022 and are expected to be completed by year-end. Also, training of 15 staff members was completed to deliver technical support to farmers, while 54 farmers were trained in techniques to increase production.

Further, the draft Aquaculture Bill will be completed in the third quarter of 2022.

The foregoing are but a handful of some of the positive efforts being taken to ensure the sustainability of the sector.

The Social Edge will continue its examination of other achievements in the non-oil sector next week.

 

 

 

 

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