FAO assures support for Guyana
GEORGETOWN – During a meeting with Prime Minister Moses V. Nagamootoo, Assistant Director-General of the Food and Agricultural Organisation of the United Nations, Dr. Julio A. Berdegue, assured continued support for Guyana’s agricultural drive.
Dr. Berdegue disclosed that FAO has pledged some US$20 million in grant aid to help develop what he described as “the tremendous untapped possibilities of Guyana in the food sector”. His organisation will strengthen its presence in Guyana, which is recognized as the agricultural reservoir of the entire Caribbean.
The top official who has been since 2017 the FAO’s Regional Representative for Latin America and the Caribbean, noted the great strides made by Guyana in literacy, with a 98% level nationwide, and hence the use of technology in the agriculture, aquaculture and apiculture.
Prime Minister Nagamootoo, who is performing the functions of the office of the President, outlined the green agenda of the Coalition Government, and the fiscal rules governing use of anticipated wealth from the petroleum industry. He told the UN official that Guyana is determined to pursue a balanced and mixed economy, with emphasis on food security. He pointed to the potentials for apiculture, as he presented his distinguished with locally produced and bottled honey. The Prime Minister assured Dr. Berdegue that with help from his UN organization and partnership with the private sector, Guyana hopes to place emphasis on agro-processing.
The FAO has been supporting agricultural ventures that are linked to the school feeding programme, under which the Ministry of Education provides fresh hot meals to a number of schools.
The Prime Minister explained the revolutionary role of the Government in opening radio communication with hinterland regions, and to the communities of indigenous peoples. In response, the official readily signaled FAO’s willingness to partner with Guyana through their Communications for Development Programme to advance communications in the hinterland regions.
In taking note of the communications infrastructure now in place, the FAO also offered to make available their early warning on drought system which is aimed at making information available about weather conditions.
Dr. Berdegue was accompanied by the FAO Representative in Guyana, Mrs. Gillian Smith, and Mr. Jefferson Jaikissioon, Programme Associate, FAO Guyana.