Minister Sawh stresses strong partnership between Government and farmers


Guyana Chronicle
October 4, 1999


FISHERIES, Crops and Livestock Minister, Mr. Satyadeow Sawh has stressed the importance of a strong partnership between farmers and Government.

In a message to mark the launching of Agriculture Month on Friday, October 1, 1999, Sawh said the country can only see continued prosperity in the agricultural sector by adopting a unified approach towards future challenges.

This includes utilisation of appropriate technologies to enhance the productivity of the agricultural sector.

Sawh spoke about the Agricultural Mechanisation Strategy which is being developed for the Caribbean under the auspices of the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO). Extensive consultations with all players in the agricultural sector have taken place and his Ministry anticipates the formulation of a comprehensive mechanisation strategy for the Caribbean in the near future, as well as specific recommendations for Guyana.

Additionally, Guyana has received 50 walking tractors from China and five of these will be sent to Lethem.

Minister Sawh urged farmers to embrace opportunities of the new trading environment.

"Let us not shy away from it..." he urged.

He said that while the trade in basic agricultural commodities still dominates the world market place, niche markets for agricultural products are proliferating at an unprecedented rate.

Consumers in export markets are demanding higher quality, organically grown products and will pay handsomely for them.

Sawh said markets for dried fruits, exotic spices and tropical flowers are emerging.

"What we need to do here in Government is ensure that farmers are aware of these opportunities and help to bring them together with buyers in overseas markets," he said.

According to the Minister, the emergence of the global economy has led to the need for diversification and agro-processing industries.

The expansion of agro-processing in Guyana is best seen in the development of the coconut industry which is now being targeted, not only for oil, but for its fibre and coir potential.

Coir can be used for several purposes including rubberised coir for upholstery, bedding, carpeting, ornamental works and the production of geo-textile materials for soil stabilisation.

There are also possibilities for producing food products from coconuts and for and for making charcoal from coconut shells.

A Coconut Industry Committee is charged with developing a comprehensive programme for rehabilitation and further development of the sub-sector, Sawh said.

Guyana is also witnessing the evolution of the cashew nut industry, he said. At the end of December last year, a team of technicians visited Brazil (which has a thriving cashew nut industry) for technical advice and improved planting material.

Minister Sawh said the Inter-American Institute of Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) is supporting the Ministry in this venture and the Brazilian Agricultural Research institute has expressed interest in the cashew nut programme. Sawh said they sent a small team to Lethem to have further discussions with local technicians.

There are also encouraging signs from the aquaculture industry which has been developing steadily, Sawh said.

Government has purchased water quality monitoring equipment, refurbished the Anna Regina Fish Culture Centre, imported improved Tilapia species and procured an FAO grant towards the construction of a Fingerling Production and Aquaculture Demonstration Centre at Mon Repos.

Trials are underway to test the suitability of a new Tilapia Grower feed produced by Guyana Stockfeeds. Sawh said farmers should have access to this improved feed which should raise productivity in the aquaculture sector.

In the area of livestock, Sawh said that from November 1998 to June 1999, the National Dairy Development Programme (NDDP) was successful in over 2000 artificial inseminations and has continued to make progress in its pasture establishment programme.

In addition, three projects to assist the NDDP were recently approved by the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) in the areas of marketing, strengthening the management systems of Cattle Farmer Associations and development of feed-lot strategies.

Guyana has also been making progress in its quest to be certified free of Foot and Mouth Disease.

Technicians are collecting samples which will be tested in Brazil. Already, funding has been secured for rehabilitation of the Ministry's Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory at Mon Repos. A mini laboratory will also be set up, Sawh said.

"Our aim is to have all monitoring and surveillance systems in place that will ensure the controlled movement of animals and livestock products into the country and within our own borders," Sawh said.

Farmers are 'driving force' in Guyana's economy-- Minister Sawh

By Sharon Lall

MINISTER of Fisheries, Crops and Livestock, Mr. Satyadeow Sawh, lauded farmers in Region Two (Pomeroon/Supenaam) for remaining the "driving force" for growth in Guyana's economy.

At an exhibition and launching ceremony for `Agriculture Month' at the Supenaam Marketing Centre, Essequibo, on Saturday, the Minister said this month is a time to reflect upon, and pay homage to the farming community.

The future, he said, lies in developing a range of value-added products to provide income and improve the security of all those involved in agriculture.

It is the responsibility of Guyanese to dispel the myth that local products are inferior in quality when compared to imports, the Minister stated.

Minister's Sawh visit to Region Two is the first in a series of activities billed for `Agriculture Month' being observed throughout October under the theme, `Produce In Guyana, Consume in Guyana'.

The staff of the National Dairy Development Programme (NDDP) and the Fisheries, Crops and Livestock Division will be involved in 32 events within the region.

Some of these involve photographic exhibitions at schools; tours of the New Opportunity Corps (NOC) at Suddie; a seminar in livestock management; a mini-exhibition at Wakapoa; a seminar on responsible fishing; and `hay-baling' and rice straw processing demonstrations.

Minister Sawh, in his address, said the emergence of the global economy has led to an increased recognition of the need to diversify Guyana's agricultural production portfolio and engage in agro-processing industries.

In this regard, he said, the Government has offered its "whole hearted" support to the private sector through the provision of marketing information, fiscal incentives, technological research and other facilitating services.

Minister Sawn added that the expansion into agro-processing is perhaps best exemplified by the development of the coconut industry.

"While we have traditionally exploited the edible oil potential of this sub-sector, there are numerous other facets which we are now targeting.

"One of them is the coconut fibre and coir potential," he said.

The Minister stated that he has overseen the setting up of a Coconut Industry Committee charged with developing a comprehensive programme for the rehabilitation and development of this sub-sector.

According to him, there are encouraging signs in the local aquaculture industry which has been developing steadily.

Recent activities by the Government in this sector include the purchase of water quality monitoring equipment, the rehabilitation of the Anna Regina Fish Culture Centre, the importation of improved species of Tilapia and the procurement of an FAO (Food and Agriculture Organisation) grant towards the construction of a Fingerling Production and Aquaculture Demonstration Centre at Mon Repos.

The Minister said there has been a consistently high level of interest in aquaculture and several persons have ventured into this type of production on a large scale basis.

Trials are now underway to test the suitability of a new Tilapia Grower feed produced by the Guyana Stockfeeds and, in a few months, farmers should have access to this improved feed aimed at raising productivity in the aquaculture industry.

Minister Sawh assured farmers that this new feed along with the new Red Tilapia species will ensure that fish produce reaches export quality.

He added that he believes success in agriculture in the modern era requires that the Government, farmers and the private sector work together.

He announced that from November 1998 to June 1999, the National Dairy Development Programme (NDDP) was successful in over 2000 cases of artificial insemination and have continued to make progress in their endeavours.

Three programmes to further provide assistance to the NDDP have been approved by the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) and strides have also been made in having Guyana certified free from "Foot and Mouth" disease.

The Minister said he is confident that Guyana will soon be free of that "burden" to export its beef products.

Mr Sawh advised farmers that with the emergence of free trade, the removal of barriers to trade, and globalisation, they must be ready to compete in a competitive atmosphere.

There is a need for farmers to scientifically improve the standards of their production and learn how to increase production and, at the same time, keep the cost of production down.

Minister Sawh urged the farming community to revolutionise its thinking and look for niche markets and concentrate on packaging, labelling and marketing.

He promised that five tractors from a total of 50 given this country as gifts by the Republic of China will be handed over to Region Two as a demonstration of the tangible support by Government for farmers.

Regional Chairman, Mr. Ali Baksh, who also spoke at the launching, pointed out that since the return of democracy in Guyana, over $90M has been spent in the Drainage and Irrigation (D&I) system to assist farmers.

According to him, over $250M is spent annually to save crops during floods.

He remarked that enough is produced in Guyana for individuals to start concentrating on the setting up of small industries and have the private sector invest in Guyana.


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