Blog

COVID-19

The Georgetown Chambersof Commerce and Industry (GCCI) has recognized that the prevailing Covid-19 pandemic has brought with it a number of stark realities, not only health risk, loss of employment and economic downturn; but also food security not peculiar to Guyana alone, but the world across.

This consciousness is not unique to the Chambers as recently the Caribbean Agricultural and Research Development Institute (CARDI) echoed similar sentiments that the Covid-19 pandemic has disrupted agriculture value chains and threatens food security in the Caricom Region.

It therefore begs the question, how do we in Guyana tackle this reality which has been brought to bear on us? An immediate solution that comes to mind is to promote a Grow More Campaign where every home and family is conscious of the need to have a little kitchen garden alongside our farmers and producers who must be incentivized to
continue to cultivate their lands as well as increase production.

FRUITS AND VEGETABLE PRODUCERS

In Guyana, much focus has been paid over the past ten (10) years on the non-traditional agricultural sector such as fruits and vegetables. Markets have been developed in the USA, Canada and other Caricom countries and export is mainly done by private individuals. Increased trade over the past decade resulted primarily from rising global food prices which had surpassed even the levels reached during the crisis of 2008.

Statistics for the undermentioned four (4) years export value were obtained:

*as at June 2019-Bank of Guyana Half Year report.

Fruits and vegetables production is not constrained to our coastland but rather cultivation occurs across eight (8) of our (10) regions at the commercial level. Some of the crops that are grown predominantly in these regions include:

· Region 1 – Ginger, tumeric and yams
· Region 2 – Coconuts, pineapples, citrus fruits and bananas
· Region 3 – Pineapples, pumpkins, bananas and ground provisions
· Region 4 – Bora, pepper, watermelon, eddoes, cassava and coconuts
· Region 5 – Eschalot, coconuts, tomatoes and boulanger
· Region 6 – Watermelon, citrus fruits, boulanger, bora, cucumber and coconuts
· Region 9 – Cassava, peanuts and bananas
· Region 10 – Bananas, pumpkin and eddoes.

In 2018, farmers increased their production of traditional and other non-traditional crops, which has resulted in the volume of exports of fruits and vegetables expanding by 5.9 percent at the end of the third quarter, when compared with the same period, in 2017. Though growth in the other crops sector was expected to continue to rise in 2019, this did not occur due to market conditions; the persistence of volatility, which is the result of constant variations in price, which continue to create great uncertainty for farmers, instability of regional markets; in addition to the great risks already posed by climate change and recurrent pests and diseases. One only has to recall that 2019 had excessive rain days throughout the year.

Projections based on population growth and food consumption patterns indicate that agricultural production will need to increase by at least 70 percent to meet demands by 2050. However, a number of reviews also indicate that climate change is likely to reduce agricultural productivity, production stability, and incomes in some areas that already have high levels of food insecurity.

DEVELOPING SMART AGRICULTURE

Climate change impacts four key dimensions of food security – availability, stability, access, and utilization.

Developing climate smart agriculture is therefore crucial in the discussion of achieving future food security and climate change goals. Green and shade houses, hydrophonics and aquaphonics are some of climate smart practices being adopted by farmers to remain resilient to changing weather patterns.

Kitchen gardens which is encouraged, can be easily constructed using PVC pipe fittings and drop boxes. Fertilizers such as tea bag and coffee grumbs, chipped fruits and vegetable peelings; and poultry waste all make the produce organic and healthier.

The above pictures depict a kitchen garden package which comes with bags of soil, dripping hose, plants and free installation that is currently being offered by the Ministry of Agriculture to the public for $12,000. The drop boxes and PVC pipe kitchen gardens are designed to avoid vulnerability to heavy rainfall so that plant growth is consistent.

At the commercial level, rural farmers, agro investors, processors, exporters and all those involved in the value chain must all be a part of the process in order to ensure this agricultural subsector remains a lucrative means of earning a livelihood from the production phase to the market phase.

STAKEHOLDERS

And how do we do make a Grow More Campaign into a success – by involving the relevant stakeholders such as the Ministry of Agriculture, NAREI, the New Guyana Marketing Corporation, the School of Agriculture; Farmers Group and Government.

The role of these agencies will also involve provision of extension services, assistance and guidance based on research to aid:-
➢ Increased Crop Yields
➢ Increased Root Growth
➢ Increased Chlorophyll Content
➢ Increased Nutrient Uptake
➢ Improved Plant Quality
➢ Enhanced Natural Defenses
➢ Improved Soil Structure
➢ Improved Water Retention
➢ Suitable Soil pH
➢ Good drainage and irrigation
➢ Market Intelligence

For the various communities of Guyana, agricultural production is both a source of food and a source of income. Inherent in a source of income is the creation of jobs.

The government can contribute via several initiatives:

➢ By distributing fertilizers, seeds, planting materials and even livestock to farmers and farmers’ groups across the country.
➢ Providing extension services whereby extension officers go out into the fields and render assistance and guidance to the farmers.
➢ Setting up storage facilities and freezing chambers at strategic locations in the eight producing regions to avoid wastage and dumping.
➢ Provide incentives to the financial sector to encourage access to finance as the agriculture sector has always been deemed high risk, for example, tax breaks
on such lending.
➢ Provide subsidies where appropriate.
➢ Initiate crop insurance and subside same to allow farmers to tide over periods of loss of crop.
➢ Most importantly, securing reliable markets for farmers produce.
➢ Facilitate transportation or subsidize the cost thereof for movement from farm to market, particularly outside of Region 4.

BENEFITS OF GROW MORE CAMPAIGN

– to ensure national food security
– increase accessibility
– allow for expansion and thus export to regional and international markets
– creation of employment
– reduce food imports
– revenue and foreign exchange earner
– cushion against rising food prices due to rising fuel prices
– national development

CAN WE DO IT?

Guyana is at a crossroad where it must allow agriculture to undergo a significant transformation in order to meet the related challenges of achieving food security and responding not only to climate change but other challenges as the Covid-19 pandemic which is expected to become protracted into 2021.

While it is commendable to note that Guyana is the only country in the southern hemisphere that is a net export of food, and has achieved the United Nations first Millennium Development Goal of eradicating hunger; this should not allow us to sit on our laurels and become complacent.

Covid-19 despite its grave impact presents a golden opportunity for Guyana to become the breadbasket of the Caribbean.

Can we do it….Yes, we can.

—-
Written by Shaleeza Shaw, Chairperson of the GCCI’s Green Economy Committee