Georgetown : Farmers have over the years been faced with the challenge of high prices for fertilizers, a constraint which affected not only theirtrade but the high price for agricultural commodities.
Much has been done thus far through the Ministry of Agriculture to remedy the situation, and in September a revised agreement was inked between the Governments of Guyana and Venezuelafor Guyana to source fertilizer from the Spanish speaking country at anaffordable rate.
Agriculture Minister Hon. Dr. Leslie Ramsammy today disclosed that the first shipment of 5000 tonnesfertilizers arrived this morning and is presently at the Friendship Wharf, East Bank Demerara.
This move will significantly boost the agricultural sector, as it will address the cost of production for agricultural products.
“Government has invested much in Agriculture but we do have some constraints, one of which is how to deal with the issue of the high price of sourcing fertilizers and pesticides not only in the direct use of these things to improve production and yields but also from the perspective of ensuring sustainable environmental practices”, he said.
This agreement paves the way for Guyana to receive 5,000 tonnes fertilizers in two phase. The second is expected to arrive in March 2014.
Enhanced farming practices, better yields are some of the benefits to be derived from this venture as the two shipment per year, will significantly satisfy the local demand.
“The work that we have done in this region from the FAO, IICA, CARDI and the University of the West Indies and our Ministries have all recognized this and we have made significant strides in diminishing these impacts”, the Minister said.
Presently the high cost of fertilizer has been significantly impacting the affordability of food in the region and as such, Government has looked to have the situation remedied, hence the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), with Venezeula.
“The affordability off producing food, the affordability of procuring food, we have all been making some very special efforts….Guyana signed an agreement with President Chavez and over the last weeks with President Maduro was the first step in this process.”
The Agriculture Ministry, Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB), and the Rice Producers’ Association (RPA), will be working collaborativelyto develop a programme whereby farmers can have access to the fertilizer at $5000 per bag as compared to the price presently paid at some $7-10,000. Small scale farmers will be the first to benefit from this venture.
Guyana and Venezuela have shared friendly relations for several years and the latter is testimony to the ever-growing friendship the two countries share.
“In addition, we expect from the next semester five students from Barbados to attend the Guyana School of Agriculture and I expect the first students from St. Vincent and the Grenadines shortly also to attend the GSA….I tell you these because these are some of the concrete examples of how the countries are beginning to work together,” the Agriculture Minister said.
You must be logged in to post a comment.