$22.6B ready to convert Agri-sector – Minister Mustapha

The National Assembly’s approval of the $22.6 billion allocation for agriculture will transform the sector, creating jobs, mechanisms for agricultural practices, guarantee food security and most significantly, provide resources to benefit thousands of agriculturists at the grassroots level.

Minister Hon. Zulfikar Mustapha made these assertions on Thursday following the passage of the Government’s historic $383.1 billion budget.

Minister Mustapha said while the Opposition Members of Parliament were exhibiting dishonourable behaviour during the day’s proceedings, his main aim was to ensure that the money is granted in the most transparent manner so that his Ministry could begin its mission of accomplishing the Government’s agriculture agenda.

Significant financial input will be made to all agriculture agencies to boost operations and avoid the neglect that transpired during the APNU/AFC tenure.

A break down of the allocated funds shows the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) getting $12 billion for critical interventions across the country, while over $1.2 billion was budgeted to support the operations of the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI).

Government is investing $832 million in agricultural infrastructure including agro-processing and packaging facilities. Farmers will now have access to affordable state-of-the-art processing and packaging at reduced operational costs.

The New Guyana Marketing Corporation will receive almost $500 million to support its initiatives. Of that sum, the Corporation is expected to strengthen the cold-storage capacity for seasonal produce destined for exportation and agro-processing. In this regard, two freezer trucks and two 40-foot refrigerated containers will be procured.

Another $806 million will be pumped into the Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA). Government will support investors by developing livestock traceability capacity to improve the accuracy and reliability of data. There are also plans to establish a modular abattoir at strategic locations, including Garden of Eden, East Bank Demerara and Onverwagt, Mahaica-Berbice.

Other areas such as Corn and Soya bean cultivation has received $500 million.

Further, some $293 million is approved to support the growth of the emerging Fisheries and Aquaculture Industry. Government will focus on supporting the development of inland fisheries and aquaculture through amendments to the Aquaculture and Inland Fisheries Regulations, among other strategic plans.

Meanwhile, the Hope Coconut Estate Limited has received $70 million. Coconut farmers can now benefit from high quality planting material at an affordable cost. Technical training will also be provided on inter-cropping, while cultivation will be provided to coconut farmers to help them optimise their returns on investments.

Minister Mustapha said much-needed funds would be pumped into the sugar sector.  This year’s budget allocates $2 billion to the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), as the PPP/C Government continues the progress of ensuring that the sub-sector returns to a breakeven status, and subsequently a profitable business.

“A lot of works is going on at estates that were closed and those persons who were dismissed are now anticipating to be back into the sugar industry, we have seen almost 1,000 of those dismissed workers being reemployed.”

With the additional money this year, the Government’s contributions to the industry will total some $9 billion. In 2020, GuySuCo received $7 billion to commence initial work.

Meanwhile, zeroing in on the conduct of Opposition MPs in the House on Thursday, Minister Mustapha said their attitude clearly demonstrates to all Guyanese, the leaders who have their interest at heart. “As a government we have the responsibility to ensure that we improve the standard of living of the Guyanese people. We have seen today that the opposition don’t care about the country, don’t care about the people. They only care about themselves and that was shown when they disrupted the Parliament.”