Census of agricultural sector to be undertaken this year

DPI, Guyana, Thursday, February 1, 2018

The Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) is preparing for the rollout of an agricultural census to determine, among other, things what is being produced locally and what other possibilities exist in the local agriculture sector.

Minister of Agriculture, Noel Holder said a census is critical to planning for the sector, however, he noted that a survey has not been conducted in the country for several decades now. The Minister also said the government is committed to the reintroduction of this important data-gathering exercise and has already acquired international financing for same.

“We have gotten funds from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) to do a national agricultural census. You know, there has not been a census in this country since the 1950’s – an agricultural census. That is being done this year. It may probably be completed next year,” Minister Holder explained.

In addition, the Agriculture Minister said his office is also working toward the re-establishment of a planning unit at the Ministry. This department will aid the development of a structured plan for the expansion and development of the agricultural sector.

“What has been missing is the equation and what is being put in this year is a whole planning section. It was scrapped under the past administration in the Ministry of Agriculture we have to put that back so that we can have a long-term plan,” the Minister added.

Minister Holder made the plans public (while responding to concerns of President of the Upper Corentyne Chambers of Commerce) in a meeting with private sector stakeholders during an outreach to the Mibikuri area in early January.

 

By: Kidackie Amsterdam

 

For more photos, click on the link to the DPI’s Flickr Page

https://www.flickr.com/photos/142936155@N03/