Georgetown, GINA, December 6, 2011
Source - GINA
Minister of Agriculture Dr. Leslie Ramsammy addressing heads of departments at the Guyana Livestock Development AuthorityNewly appointed Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy today met with the heads of departments and agencies under the Ministry’s purview in order to familarise himself with the departments and agencies under the purview of the Ministry.
In his address, Minister Ramsammy said that he is poised and ready to take the agriculture sector to greater heights during his tenure as minister.
Agriculture, he said must not only be seen as growing and supplying food, but delivering high quality food that is safe for consumption and healthy for the population.
“Food is not just something to fill the belly, food is an important component in the pursuit of healthy, long productive life…and therefore meeting those needs it would entail us developing and sustaining the new and improved crops and livestock breeds for the supply of a more balanced diet for Guyanese and other consumers,” the Minister stated.
Guyana, he said must not only strive to become food sufficient, but produce the type of food that will help Guyanese to acquire the average daily calories and micro-nutrient needs.
Minister of Agriculture Dr. Leslie Ramsammy and Minister within the Ministry of Agriculture Ali Baksh meeting with heads of department and members of the Agriculture Board“And therefore, as the New Minister of Agriculture I would like to follow that approach … as well and develop the sector to the level where it can contribute more significantly to the economic development of the country,” Minister Ramsammy asserted.
He said he will be looking at developing farming across Guyana, where both traditional and non-traditional agricultural communities would be able to tap into the export markets and “thus transform into entrepreneurial activities”.
The vision for the sector, he said is for Guyana is not only seen as a producer of raw material but, as a genuine industrialized country involved in the production of value - added products.
To ensure this vision becomes a reality, Minister Ramsammy explained that his ministry will embark on the establishment of a National Think Tank Committee involving a wide range of stakeholders from both within and outside the agriculture sector.
Minister of Agriculture Dr. Leslie Ramsammy and Minister within the Ministry of Agriculture Ali Baksh addressing members of the mediaThe Ministry, he said has already begun drafting proposals and terms of reference for the establishment of the committee.
Minister Ramsammy also visited the Guyana Livestock Development Agency (GLDA), where he met with the agency’s heads of departments and managers.
He told the staffers that the time has come for change in traditional practices in agriculture and that Guyana should strive to shape its own future. In this regard, he urged GLDA’s managers to explore new and innovative techniques to further advance the livestock industry.
“So that work plans for the sector for the next year or three years should be driven by the determination to shape a new destiny for the agricultural sector,” Minister Ramsammy urged.
Against this background, he said that research and development would be the focal projector for the sector and “therefore a number of things would have to happen, including the training of more technical and skilled persons for research and development”.
He urged that, “Agriculture must be developed to the level where a large number of people can make a livelihood, develop enterprises and a spring board for national development in our country.”
Following the discussion with GLDA’s heads, Minister Ramsammy visited several locations in Region 6 where he met with members of the Black Bush Water Users Association and Regional Chairman Zulfikar Mustapha, where several matters of concern were addressed including urgent maintenance and re-operation of drainage pumps in the Black Bush area.
Minister Ramsammy will also be meeting with residents and farmers in Hubu, Region Three tomorrow.
Over the past years, the Government has prudently managed the agriculture sector thus making it productive through the introduction of new technologies and innovative farming techniques.
Government over the next five years plans to transform the productive sectors with the aim of creating more jobs through the introduction of technologies, large scale agriculture and agro-processing and sustainable harvesting of the country’s vast natural resources.