Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo was keen to note on Thursday that government is dedicated to supporting the development of agriculture in the hinterland areas, with a particular focus on improving food security. He also noted its plans to initiate the export of agricultural goods from North-West, Region One to various Caribbean destinations.
During his weekly press conference, Jagdeo emphasized the government’s awareness of the challenges faced by hinterland communities in terms of food security. In response, the government has identified strategies to address these concerns. Notably, Jagdeo highlighted the issue of flooding, stating, “When I met with some of the Toshaos in Region Nine, they consistently expressed concerns about flooding, which often leads to the loss of bitter cassava crops.” Furthermore, he acknowledged the shortage of planting materials, which prompted the government to import substantial quantities of such materials from Brazil to distribute among farmers in the area.
He also acknowledged the profound impact of flooding on many subsistence-based hinterland communities. To mitigate the consequences, he encouraged individuals to engage in home-based cultivation to enhance their food security.
Jagdeo further unveiled the government’s vision to establish citizen-operated factory shelves capable of producing flour from plantains and an array of other products for export to the Caribbean. Notably, these facilities will be powered by solar panels. According to Jagdeo, the government will also provide plantain suckers to citizens, placing the cultivation responsibility in their hands.
Moreover, Jagdeo mentioned the government’s aspirations to cultivate products such as turmeric, black pepper, and honey in Region One for subsequent transportation and sale in Georgetown. He emphasized that these specific products possess extended shelf lives, making them less susceptible to the transportation challenges currently faced by the region.
“The most significant hurdle for the agricultural sector in Region One has always been transportation, particularly in moving goods to Georgetown,” Jagdeo asserted. However, he expressed optimism regarding the recently commissioned M.V Ma Lisha, which will play a pivotal role in improving trade and transportation services. By cutting travel time to the region in half, the vessel is poised to facilitate increased goods transport to the interior, thereby reducing the cost of living and expanding trade opportunities.
In addition, Jagdeo revealed that the government has plans to establish direct market access to the Caribbean, by enabling shipments from the North-West.
