DRAFT May 21, 1996
DRAFT May 21, 1996
"Other Agriculture" in Guyana represents that component of the agricultural sector that excludes rice, sugar, forestry and fishing, and is commonly referred to as the "non-traditional crops (NTCs) and livestock sub-sector." A wide range of commodities is produced by the sub-sector for local consumption and export. Crops are classified under the broad headings of ground provisions, vegetables, citrus, fruits (other than citrus), seasonings, oil crops, grain legumes and grains. Livestock categories include dairy, poultry, beef, pork, sheep and goats.
The major non-traditional crops are the following:
Cereals and legumes: Corn, blackeye, manica and other
Oilseeds: Peanut and coconut
Ground provisions: Cassava, sweet potatoes, eddoes, yam, tania/dasheen, plantains
Vegetables and greens: Tomatoes, cabbage, pumpkin, bora, ochro, boulanger, squash, cucumber and other vegetables
Spices and seasonings: Eschalot, hot pepper , ginger, tumeric and other spices
Fruits: Banana, pineapple, pear, carambola and watermelon
Other fruits: Mangoes, genip, cherry, awara
Citrus: Lime, grapefruit, orange, other citrus
Other crops: Coffee, cocoa and cotton
Table 27-1 shows that non-traditional crops are geographically distributed across the 10 regions. Except for coconut palms, almost all of the fruits, vegetables, legumes and ground provisions are grown by a large number of small farmers across Guyana. The production of coconut palms is concentrated along the coastal regions by large farmers.
Activities of the sub-sector are concentrated along the coastal belt and the riverain areas, as well as in some enclaves in the intermediate savannahs and in the townships which border neighbouring countries. The Rural Farm Household Survey 1982 showed that 75 percent of the 25,000 farmers in rural coastal Guyana occupy holdings less than six ha and produce a variety of crops and livestock. Acreage under NTCs and livestock was given as 65,000 ha (40,000 ha - crops, 25,000 ha - livestock ), with an additional 48,000 ha classified as unused land. Small farmers produce all fruit and most vegetables grown in Guyana, 80 percent of the grain crops, 60 percent of the coconuts, and 40 percent of the palm oil. Governmental enterprises account for the rest of the production of coconuts and palm oil.
Table 27-1
Production of Other Crops by Regions in 1994
(000 pounds)
| Regions |
Cereals
and legumes |
Oilseeds |
Ground prov.,
veg. and greens |
Spices and
seasonings |
Citrus |
Other
Fruits |
Others |
Source: Ministry of Agriculture.
"Other Agriculture" comprises farming systems that are small in scale, use a low level of technology, and are labour intensive. Subsistence farming, a tendency to stick to traditional agricultural practices, and the lack of supportive services to encourage farmers to adopt improved methodologies for increasing production and productivity also characterise the sub-sector. Export potential remains relatively untapped. However, the sub-sector's contribution to the livelihood of rural households, national food security, and foreign exchange earnings cannot be negated. Guyana is self sufficient in vegetables (including root crops and tubers), fruits, beef and mutton. Eggs, poultry and milk production have increased in recent years. Export markets are opening for a wide variety of crops and will gain momentum with the advent of improved marketing arrangements. The cases of pineapple and plantain are especially noteworthy but there is a growing awareness of production and export possibilities for many other non-traditional crops. Cognisance of the past and an awareness of the present are key factors to planners who are mandated to establish the future goals of the sub-sector and encourage its development into a self-sustaining and vibrant entity of the economy.
Government economic policies during the early 1970s to the mid 1980s emphasised State intervention with the aim of arriving at food self sufficiency. The major industries of the country, sugar and bauxite, were nationalised. Private sector investment was stymied by a variety of macro-economic and sectoral policies, including rationing of foreign exchange that resulted from its unrealistic valuation. Price controls characterised price policy in Guyana, supported by direct purchases and sales of produce by the Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC). These consumer-oriented price policies resulted in low investment and neglect of already existing agricultural enterprises. In the case of the coconut industry Government attempted to run the plantations on its own. The portion of agricultural commodities that the country was unable to produce was imported. In addition, most inputs, from agrochemicals to machinery services and credit were subsidised. These policy orientations proved to be counterproductive, and the situation was exacerbated by adverse trends in the external terms of trade. The consequent decline of the economy is well known.
In spite of the economic difficulties during the 1970s and 1980s, agricultural development projects for special commodities or in specific areas were instituted to bolster activity in the sector. These included the Black Bush Polder Irrigation Project, the East Coast Essequibo Development Project, the Coconut Rehabilitation and Small Farm Development Project, the Integrated Food Crop Development Programme, and the National Dairy Development Programme. Independent agencies were formed to manage these programmes that were aimed to increase production from private farmers by providing support in land acquisition, infrastructural development and subsidised services. These policies had immediate impact despite implementation problems, as they contained strong incentives for farmers.
In 1988, the direction of the economy was steered by structural adjustment measures carried out by Government; lifting of bans in food imports, privatisation of some public assets, elimination of price controls, introduction of private sector management into the sugar industry, reduction or elimination of the import licensing and import tariffs on agricultural inputs and establishment of a floating exchange rate for the local currency. This led to a resurgence of private initiative throughout the economy. The New Guyana Marketing Corporation (NGMC) no longer buys or sells agricultural commodities but acts as a facilitator to agricultural marketing especially in the area of export marketing. Government holdings in agriculture are presently being divested.
Government's current policy is to support policies that increase the earnings from traditional exports (sugar and rice) while encouraging production of domestic food commodities and non-traditional exports. The private sector will be the main engine of growth, but Government will attempt to ensure that all publicly owned infrastructure and facilities are operated efficiently. The Ministry of Agriculture has given priority to the upgrading of nurseries, strengthening the research, extension and marketing systems, and improving accessibility to land for agricultural development. Within the past two years the emphasis has been placed on improving drainage and irrigation systems, farm to market roads, and market sites and wharves. Much is still to be done in these and other areas, and the unreliable electricity supply and lack of potable water are of major concern.
Land availability will continue to be a problem in view of the resurgence of rice activity, and the future development of NTCs and livestock seems to exist in those coastal areas that are farther south of the presently cultivated strip as well as in the intermediate savannahs. The focus on the development of such areas invites research and development activities as well as appropriate investments in infrastructure for production, agro-processing and marketing. Market research and information systems will also need to be in place for derivation of sustainable and environmentally sound agricultural production systems for commercial agriculture.
The NTCs and livestock sub-sector holds great potential for contributing to the overall economy. Efforts must continue to increase production, reduce price fluctuations and increase consumption of specific items. Moreover, the ultimate goal should be to improve the livelihood of the farmers involved in "other agriculture" production. Exports and agro-industry must increase and the sub-sector deserves comprehensive policy guidelines that will cater for the following overall objectives and needs:
- increases in producers' income
- risk reduction
- market expansion
- technological advancement
- collation and dissemination of information on markets
- infrastructural improvement
- education and training
- promotion of farmers organisations / community groups
- financial support services
In the preparation of this Chapter, both broader issues as well as issues specific to the crop and livestock sub-sectors were addressed. Recommendations have been made and it is now necessary for Government to develop a more detailed programme for NTCs and livestock, in parallel to what has been established for rice and sugar.
1. Land and Infrastructure
The administration of State lands is inefficient, leading to frustration of farmers' efforts to obtain information on leases, availability of idle land, and imprecision in the identification of boundaries. There is also no clear demarcation of which land falls under the jurisdictions of the Lands and Surveys Department, Geology and Mines Commission and Forestry Commission.
There is growing competition for available land among traditional crops and NTCs, livestock, and housing and industrial land developers. Moreover, many lands presently utilised by NTCs and livestock are constrained by lack of maintained infrastructure and access. Historical layouts of drainage and irrigation infrastructure, for example, are consistent with what is required for rice and sugar, and they are not necessarily appropriate for economic production of NTCs and livestock. Yet Government has not made the necessary modifications to the infrastructure on the land, even in cases when farmers wish to emphasise NTCs and livestock.
2. Extension Services, Research and Development
Extension services and research and development work in agriculture are under the jurisdictions of the Ministry of Agriculture, semi-autonomous State agencies, input suppliers and regional and international agencies. Limited funding, staff shortages, and infrequent meetings of personnel impede collaboration and coordination. Research is sometimes unrelated to farmers needs and spread out over a wide range of crops in diverse geographical zones.
The sub-sector is not structured along similar lines as those developed for rice and sugar. As a result, incentive packages and specific programmes for some components of the industry have been neglected.
The extension services of the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) cannot function optimally due to staff shortages (estimated at 70 percent); lack of transportation; awkward accounting arrangements for payment of salaries; reimbursements; allowances; etc.; and low salaries. Due to these constraints the 1994 Extension Services Programme could achieve only 50 percent of its targeted regional visits, 30 percent of its in-service training, and all regional training sessions were canceled in that year.
3. Marketing
a. Market transparency
Production of NTCs and livestock is not guided effectively by market intelligence services. Seasonality of export demand, weather patterns, and input price fluctuations create a very unstable supply of produce ranging from gluts to scarcity. Input availability, soil types, farmers' experiences and perceived demand govern production levels and farmers' choices of commodities. There is poor organisation among farmers at local and national levels, and hence there is little exchange of experiences on these crops and no coordinated effort to obtain information on external markets.
b. Transportation
Lack of an adequate transportation infrastructure and services is a major impediment to the marketing of agricultural products within and out of Guyana. Poor transportation services contribute to the wide spread between ex-farm and retail prices. Riverain producers and consumers are subject to very poor transportation linkages. Water and road transport is unreliable and high priced. Local roads are in very poor conditions.
Exporters are seriously inconvenienced due to poor port facilities, limited cargo space, and the frequent need for transshipment of goods through Trinidad.
c. Storage and handling
The very unreliable power and potable water supplies are major causes of post-harvest losses and a serious constraint to the development of milk pasteurisation units and meat storage facilities. The country has a paucity of trained cadres in post-harvest technology and very few entrepreneurs in agro-processing. A high percentage of wastage results, and less than 1 percent of total production is exported. The six established wholesale marketing centres (except Black Bush Polder) have been sidelined by private initiatives and local retail markets (34 municipal and 36 roadside), and they are poorly serviced with basic amenities.
d. Market Information
Essential marketing linkages (local and overseas) are limited, and therefore restrict knowledge on existing trends in prices and demand and supply situations. Information (on existing acreages, cost of production, seasonality, etc.) required for farmers' planning purposes is poorly collated.
e. Product Standards
There is growing concern about the improper handling of foods in production, manufacturing, transportation, storage and other stages in the farm-to-market chain. The health and the nutritional status of the population are affected by contamination, adulteration, or presence of industrial pollutants, environmental contaminants, toxins and chemical residues in the food consumed. The Government Analyst's Department, faced with several constraints (finances, laboratory facilities, staff) cannot effectively oversee all stages of food production, and the staff of that department seems to concentrate its activities in microbiological surveillance of retailed food.
A Pesticides and Toxic Chemical Control Bill, which addresses legislation for chemicals entering Guyana, is pending Cabinet's approval. The presence of chemical residues in food, however, is not fully addressed in that bill and should be dealt with in additional legislation.
Legislation is also not enforced in ensuring that standards are met for inputs used by the sub-sector. There are several anomalies associated with foreign language labels, defective machinery, parts and tools, low quality or expired drugs, and incomplete or unclear manufacturers' instructions.
4. Credit and Investment
The highly risky nature of agricultural production in an environment that is not supportive to its development (poor extension services, low level technologies of production, praedial larceny, droughts and floods, poor infrastructure, land tenure insecurities, lack of collateral, etc.) is not conducive to the procurement of lines of credit. Lending agencies do not seek out business in rural districts and are truly ignorant of farmers' financial needs. Because of contributions from donors and Central Government the two major agricultural lending agencies (GAIBANK and ICED) have not sought to recover funds expeditiously from defaulters and that approach creates a poor credit servicing mentality in rural areas, which in turn increases the difficulties of obtaining new credits.
Prospective investors in NTCs and livestock have been stymied in their initiatives to confirm the fulfillment of the conditionalities for their operations and have been discouraged by unattractive terms for financing. Misleading investment guidelines, and favoured treatment to foreign investors further exacerbates the investors' imbroglio. Tax evasions and nonpayment of duties are prevalent in the system.
5. Rural Development Centres and Agricultural Cooperatives
Many difficulties encountered by farmers producing NTCs and livestock stem from their lack of cohesiveness as a group and their inability to be heard as a single voice. Little emphasis is placed on the formation of community groups. Cooperatives have died because of lack of political will and vibrancy of its membership.
6. Labour and Other Inputs
For the most part, agricultural labour has over the years moved into the rice, logging and sugar sub-sectors, or totally out of agriculture. The difficulties that farmers experience in obtaining basic inputs (particularly from overseas) and the low prevailing income levels are disincentives to the development of the subsector.
7. Education and Training
a. Youth
Although agriculture is a major contributor to the economy of Guyana, youth awareness about agriculture is not considered a priority in the primary school educational curriculum. Teaching of agriculture in primary schools was catered for by the fifth component of the SSEE syllabus but this was discontinued since the early 1980s, due to financial and staffing constraints. At the secondary school level Agricultural Science is offered at CXC. Over the last three years 11 percent (8.5 percent - double award, 2.7 percent - single award level) of all CXC entrants wrote the examination with an overall pass rate of 36 percent (up to Grade 2 counted as a pass).
The MOA, through its Youth Development Programme, carried out just eight agricultural training activities in 1994, mainly in the rural districts. The unit cites lack of transportation, audiovisual aids, finances, and trained staff among its many constraints to better functioning.
b. Adult
Pre- and post-service training in agriculture are provided by the Faculties of Agriculture and Education of the University of Guyana, the Guyana School of Agriculture (GSA), Regional Educational Programme for Animal Health Assistants (REPAHA), Agricultural In-service Training Communication Center (AITCC), MOA and NARI. Some constraints to their effective training are lack of teaching instruments, lack of programmes to meet developmental needs, underpaid staff, shortage of skilled teachers, and limited funding. The lack of interest of young persons in agriculture has lowered the matriculation requirements of tertiary education institutions. The end result is under-qualified and poorly trained graduates, unable to function in the farming communities to which they are later exposed.
c. Continuous farmer training
Apart from the Dairy Training Centre at the St. Stanislaus College farm, there is no teaching institute established specifically for training farmers, and the producing community has no established linkage for further training beyond what is minimally carried out by the Extension Services and the NGMC.
1. Crops
Guyana is virtually self sufficient in all crops except spices and legumes. In recent years vegetable production has increased while production of forage, fruit, and root crops has dropped. The agri-business and agro-industrial development of the sub-sector is in hands of small, limited-resource independent operators, and the supply chain is characterised by low productivity, high post-harvest losses, high prices to consumers and praedial larceny. Nonetheless, the sector provides sustenance to the rural poor, most of whom are self-employed in agriculture or workers in the rice and sugar industries, both of which are seasonal.
Export volumes of non-traditional crops have increased through the initiatives of small traders rather than through organised and adequately financed operations. Poor water management, a lack of updated information on cropping, farm management and agro processing techniques, limited access to credit and deteriorated feeder roads are all important constraints to sub-sector growth.
a. Agronomic Practices
Most of the crop farmers in Guyana are involved in mixed crop farming. Agronomic practices developed over the years are consistent for systems of low level technological packages. The lack of effective extension services, and the limited availability of inputs and their high costs (quality planting material, fertilizers, pesticides, machinery) in a risky activity without assured markets militate against the adoption of technically sound agronomic methods in crop production.
b. Germplasm Supply
Governmental and private agencies carry out germplasm production. The MOA has nine established nurseries administrated through the Nursery Rehabilitation Programme, and they supply citrus, avocadoes and other fruit plants. These nurseries are unable to satisfy demand for plants and, apart from using old stock, are in need of infrastructural rehabilitation. This problem is presently being addressed and IICA is providing the technical assistance to the contractors who will repair the nurseries.
The National Seed Programme has a well-defined Seed Policy and Seed Programme and is progressing favourably. Vegetable and legume seeds are produced at the MOA's Seed Technology Unit, Mon Repos and at Ebini (through a collaborative CARDI/NARI programme), respectively. Grain legume production has been given more research attention than vegetable seed production, and certification of seed, seed marketing and extension are areas that still need to be more completely addressed.
NARI's tissue culture programme supplies plantain, pineapple, yam, cassava, sweet potato and bora plantlets. The hardening of these plantlets at nurseries prior to sale is not yet practised.
Private nurseries and imported seed are now contributing to germplasm supply, but there is much scope for expansion.
c. Plant Protection and Quarantine Services
The inadequate monitoring of ports places the country's agriculture at risk. Guyana's plant health capabilities are inadequate and, as such, the country is unable to make definitive statements on pests and diseases incidence. This affects the ability to export.
The office of the Quarantine Services has no authority to withhold a consignment after Custom's clearance. Very often, because of ignorance of Custom's staff, importers are allowed to clear agricultural products without import licenses, phytosanitation certificates or inspections from Plant Quarantine officers.
The country has no facilities for bulk treatment of fruits and vegetables earmarked for export.
2. Livestock
Guyana is "self-sufficient" (1)
in all animal products except milk and poultry. Milk and poultry production have, however, increased over the years and were at 8.75 million gallons and 13.7 million lbs. in 1994, respectively. The production responses in the milk industry can be attributed to Government's intervention through the creation of the National Dairy Development Programme (NDDP) in 1984 (milk production was then at 2.8 million gallons), and the removal of consumption taxes and duties on inputs to the poultry industry in 1991/1992 (production was then at 3.1 million lbs.), respectively. Despite these initiatives livestock production in Guyana is way below its potential capacity. The industry requires a well-coordinated infusion of support services to sustain and increase production, and ultimately to capture export markets. Low level technology applications prevail in the subsector, and farmers (particularly pig and small ruminants producers) are operating at subsistence levels constrained by several factors.
a. Nutrition
Liveweight gains, milk production and reproductive performance of all livestock classes are sub-optimal because of inadequate nutritional programmes. Feeding of livestock in Guyana is affected by feed supply (both in terms of quantity and quality) and by lack of application of the basic principles of animal nutrition.
The supply of readily available energy-based feeds, rice bran and wheat middlings, has been reduced abruptly by preferential export markets for cargo rice and unlimited imports of processed flour, respectively. Rice bran requirements per annum for the estimated 160,000 livestock units of cattle and 10,000,000 pounds of poultry are 27,580 tonnes,(2)
an amount that far exceeds local production of 7,500 tonnes.
Protein feeds are imported at high costs and this contributes to the elevated prices for poultry and pork.
Ruminant producers continue to compete with traditional crop farmers for available land for pasturage.
The sole State-controlled feed company, Guyana Stock Feeds Limited, operates without the freedom to respond quickly to market conditions (via product appearance, credit to clients, capital investments) to ensure its competitiveness with poultry feed importers.
b. Animal Health
The country's livestock population is relatively disease free except for endo- and ecto-parasitic burdens and their associated diseases (babesiosis and anaplasmosis). Tuberculosis in cattle has been identified in some enclaves, and the country has not been declared free of foot-and-mouth disease though there has been no incidence of that disease since 1976, and the disease has never occurred on the coast. Poultry producers have been experiencing undiagnosed conditions of respiratory ailments and nervous (tremor) syndromes. Pigs and small ruminants continue to be affected by endo-parasitic burdens that have not been evaluated.
The veterinary services offered by MOA are very poorly supported, and veterinarians are incapable of carrying out their functions because of lack of transportation, drugs, equipment and facilities. A case in point is the inability to carry out the Bovine Tuberculosis Eradication Programme because of lack of transportation.
c. Genetic Improvement
There are no specialised breeding programmes in place, except in cattle via the Artificial Insemination Programme using improved breeds for dairy (NDDP) and beef (private, through the American Breeders Society).
For sheep, CARDI has initiated some work on multiplying the Barbados Blackbelly, stabilising the Corentyne White, and acquiring other suitable breeds.
Poultry and swine breeding are ad hoc, and mainly consist of a selection process, while introduction of new breeds for these classes of livestock is at a standstill.
For all types of livestock financial constraints and lack of physical facilities inhibit progress in animal breeding in relation to acquiring germplasm for tropically adapted breeds from overseas, and establishing evaluation programmes.
There is no monitoring agency to document and evaluate what is occurring in the field though it is known that farmers are experimenting with breeding based on their own preferences and experiences.
d. Management
The constraints highlighted under the paragraphs relating to nutrition, health and genetic improvement show the low level of management practices for livestock rearing. Poultry and pig rearing are basically intensive, while cattle, sheep and goats graze extensively in very diverse management systems. Ruminant livestock are generally considered as a family asset only to be drawn upon as the need arises and not to be developed economically. Farmers do not venture to find markets for their meat animals but will sell when approached by butchers and middlemen. Poultry farmers tend to plan for the immediate future and frequently make wrong market predictions that lead to economic losses in addition to causing serious disruptions in supply. New approaches to integrated farming practices have not caught on with the farming community, despite the fact that many small producers will have both livestock and crops on their farmsteads. One activity will be undertaken to the detriment of the other (e.g., rice and cattle), influenced by market trends.
Non-traditional crops are generally quite labour-intensive and also, when they are exported, they rank very highly in terms of net foreign exchange earned per acre. To date they represent a significant unrealised potential for Guyana. Equally important economic opportunities lie in the agro-processing of non-traditional crops and livestock. The overall objective of policy in this sector is to increase rates of growth of its output, in the knowledge that this will imply important increases in rural incomes, employment and foreign exchange earnings, and also reductions in rural poverty.
To fulfill this broad objective, it will be necessary to satisfy a number of more specific, supporting objectives. They are put forth below.
1. Land and Infrastructure
To provide prospective and present farmers engaged in NTCs and livestock with information on land by improving the efficiency of land administration, thereby reducing the time taken between registering interest and acquisition of land.
To increase the acreage available to these farmers and improve accessibility of available coastal lands and the intermediate savannahs to ensure a more diversified agricultural economy, though a liberalised leasehold policy and inclusion of non-traditional crops in the planning of land development schemes.
To implement all of the recommendations in Chapter 29 concerning reforms in agricultural land policy.
2. Extension Services, Research and Development
To improve the emoluments for Government-paid staff, and equip research, extension and development agencies with facilities that will allow for full execution of their roles and function.
To formalise a coordinated programme that optimises the use of human and physical resources in provision of adequate support services to agriculture, taking into account the particular needs of non-traditional crops and livestock.
To implement in general the recommendations for institutional reform in Chapter 28.
3. Marketing
To encourage more regular supplies of commodities, thus helping stabilise prices.
To make more efficient the physical flow of produce from one point to another, thus reducing price differentials between producer and consumer levels.
To provide a physical environment that is conducive to better storage, handling and processing of NTCs and animal products.
To ensure that producers have speedy access to information on technologies of production and marketing opportunities.
To provide consumers with quality products that are free of disease and contaminants (chemical or otherwise) and to ensure that inputs are properly labeled in keeping with approved standards.
4. Credit and Investment
To make available credit more accessible and to have loans serviced more effectively.
To encourage new investment into the sub-sector.
5. Rural Development Centres and Agricultural Cooperatives
To unify the producers of NTCs and livestock into interest groups, and to foster an active stance in the part of these groups by close association with the extension and research service and development agencies.
6. Labour and Other Inputs
To attract labour and increase the flow of other inputs into the subsector and ensure increased production and productivity.
7. Education and Training
Youth - To develop among our youth a positive attitude towards agriculture and agricultural careers.
Adults - To capitalise on early agriculture awareness and interest by provision of high standard institutions for tertiary educational that will attract students of caliber from Guyana and other Caribbean territories.
Continuous farmer training - To establish a Farmers' Training Centre (FTC).
1. Crops
a. Agronomic Practices
To develop through research improved systems for increased production and productivity, and to transfer effectively these new technologies to crop farmers.
b. Germplasm Supply
To see that farmers are provided with adequate quantities of quality seed and planting material at the right place, at the right time and at an affordable price.
c. Plant Protection and Quarantine Services
To strengthen the plant health and quarantine services to ensure:
- the identification, control and eradication of pests and diseases existing in Guyana;
- the prevention of entry into the country of new pests and diseases.
2. Livestock
a. Nutrition
To increase the production of animal feeds.
To employ proven and relevant animal nutrition principles in the rearing of livestock for optimal growth, reproduction and milk production.
3. Animal Health
To gain a greater understanding of the health status of the various classes of livestock in Guyana.
To obtain veterinary clearance on foot-and-mouth disease.
To strengthen the veterinary division of the Ministry of Agriculture.
4. Genetic Improvement
To improve progressively the quality of the national herds.
5. Management
To encourage farmers to treat their livestock holdings as a business entity, and adopt management practices that will yield more attractive remunerative gains.
Strengthen the Lands and Surveys Department via emoluments, equipment, staff and training, to render improvements in the following:
- Distribution of State lands - improved surveying capability and decision processes are needed.
- Coordination of land use with other land management agencies.
- Efficiency of services to farmers relating to access to information, surveying needs, valuation, etc.
- Guidance on land usage based on land capability studies.
Priority should be placed on developing infrastructurally the "third-depth" lands that stretch from the Mahaica to the Essequibo rivers, the coastal region of this area being occupied by the highest density of human and livestock populations in Guyana. Agricultural development in the intermediate savannahs should also be encouraged based on research studies undertaken in the area. As a 'special project' activity Government could secure donor funding for developing these new agricultural production zones into entire self-sustaining communities.
Leasing arrangements need to be reviewed to allow for longer, transferable leases that will better serve as collateral, and the institutional impediments to land rental need to be removed. Chapter 29 develops a full set of recommendations related to land policy.
Policies should also be directed into forming participatory programmes for:
- operation and maintenance of drainage and irrigation schemes;
- development and maintenance of feeder roads and dams.
Improve working conditions and emoluments to make them competitive with those of the private sector.
Create an information centre to facilitate collection, storage and retrieval of agricultural information (NARI as headquarters). Increase the use of media in communications, and encourage networking through computerisation.
Concentrate research and development studies in selected commodities and in geographically delineated zones. Selection of the commodity should be based on production potential and marketability, e.g., coconuts, pineapple, passion fruit, peppers. Research should be a function of the ongoing needs to the developing sub-sector. In farm mechanisation, labour saving systems need to be developed. Agro-processors must be encouraged in their initiatives by timely responses to their concerns. Post-harvest losses are to be addressed. Producers need guidance on selection of plant or animal germplasm, and agronomic/husbandry practices suitable to their operations.
Encourage private sector involvement in agricultural extension. In agro-processing ventures, manufacturers should invest in providing extension services to producers of primary products. Inputs (fertilizers, pesticides, machinery, veterinary drugs, etc.) suppliers must also invest in extension services to promote their products.
Optimise scarce manpower resources via workshops at both community and national level, thus involving farmers themselves in the extension effort.
Resuscitate the functionality of the National Science Research Council, comprising agricultural agencies and institutions heads, to ensure collaboration and exchange of ideas on a regular basis. Create an organisational structure that fully considers provision of support services to agricultural production. NARI is suggested as the repository or scientific research equipped with the staff and facilities to support the developmental and production agencies (NGMC, NDDP) which are directly linked to the producers. New agencies or strengthening of existing agencies will be needed so that sub-components that were previously neglected (e.g., poultry, pigs, planting material) can now be included with focal interests.
See also the recommendations regarding research and extension activities in Chapter 28 of this Strategy.
An advisory services agency (possibly the NGMC) is needed that is fully aware of market opportunities and informs farmers of them on a timely basis. The agency should also help producers in finding inputs, obtaining access to markets, and in directing farmers' concerns to relevant agencies, and establish a computerised information network with linkages to overseas markets. The encouragement of agro-processing as the thrust for the future must be the focus of this agency.
The Transport and Harbours Department must regularise and increase its services across the main waterways. Improved airline linkages to overseas markets are to be negotiated. Private sector involvement in provision of reliable road and water transport should be encouraged. Government should continue to prioritise its road repair programme in the rural districts. See the more complete set of recommendations in this regard in Chapter 38.
Also in the area of basic infrastructure, the Government must ensure electrification and potable water supplies to the rural districts.
Government should seek to train more individuals in post-harvest technology. Government needs to revisit the concept of marketing centres, and the management of the municipal markets must seek to upgrade facilities for weighing, storage, sanitation, communication, banking, parking, rate collections, etc., in an all encompassing effort to provide more adequate service to buyers and sellers. Ways to involve the private sector in the management of marketing centres need to be explored.
The Bureau of Standards and the Analyst's Department, in collaboration with the private sector and other consumer-based agencies, must work together to establish a framework that guarantees the quality and safety of food. Legislation provided by the Food and Drug Act of Guyana must be updated to conform with international standards for chemical and disease free food (fresh and processed).
More attention is needed in the area of input standards and consumers should be guided accordingly. Legislation to control the influx of defective goods and to enforce punitive action against defaulters must be established.
Credit agencies must be sensitised to farmers' financial requirements by extending their outreach programmes into the rural communities. This could be fostered by the Rural Development Centres and Agricultural Cooperatives network that will assist its membership in preparing proposals. The credit agencies can also introduce group systems of lending and lending as multiple of savings in small loan schemes for farmers without collateral.
Relevant agencies must establish collaboratively a clearly defined and comprehensive policy that will help investors in gaining accurate and complete information about taxation, duties, concessions, land acquisition and financing. An investors' guide is needed with a procedural flow of activities from planning to implementation. GOINVEST logically should undertake to do this.
See also the recommendations on agricultural finance in Chapter 28.
The NDDP has made a positive step in registering all cattle owners in Guyana and unifying them by forming village groups, regional associations and national congresses. A similar arrangement exists for the rice farmers via the RPA, with the GRDB acting as a regulatory body. This type of organisation is to be encouraged for the NTCs and other livestock producers, with support from the NGMC, IICA, CARDI, and the Extension Division of the Ministry of Agriculture. Agricultural Cooperatives should be revamped to encourage the formation of self-help societies that aim to improve the economic welfare of its members through planning and management.
Government can support these groups via direct contracts for food supplies to Government-managed institutions and feeding programmes for schools and the needy.
Agricultural fairs, competitions, and exhibitions must be revitalised to awaken the spirit of the communities. Selection of the coordinating agencies for such activities will be directed by their focal interests.
It must be recognised that the movement of labour into the sub-sector depends on a perception of a package for remunerative gains and improved quality of life. This is obtainable via a multidimensional approach to creation of an environment that supports community development. The recommendation for rural development centres and agricultural cooperatives will apply here. Private sector involvement in input provisions should be encouraged to the extent of developing contract farming options, allowing the producer to concentrate all his efforts in production while being furnished with the necessary materials. Government and private investors should foster the creation of machinery pools and fabrication units to cater for the mechanisation needs of farmers. Policies must be implemented to reduce bureaucratic procedures in acquisition of imported inputs. Government should take active steps to encourage reputable international fruit marketing firms to come to Guyana and enter into contract farming.
(i) Youth - The poor perception of agriculture has to be changed by a fundamental approach that is introduced early in life at the primary level with much emphasis on practical agriculture through 4-H Club type activity. Primary school curriculum planners have suggested their intent to reintroduce the subject as a core subject. This ought to set the pace for higher interest at the secondary level and remove the stigmas that negatively influence on agricultural development. Government must render appropriate support to accelerate activities in this area.
(ii) Adults - Scholarships, bursaries, students' loans and guaranteed employment may attract a better quality student to tertiary training institutes.
(iii) Learning institutions must be better equipped with teaching instruments - laboratories, audiovisual aids, experimental plots and cages, green houses. Improved working conditions and salaries are needed to attract a higher caliber of teaching staff.
(iv) Practical agriculture teaching must be emphasised (apprenticeships, vacation assignments, field trips, and research assignments).
(v) The promotion of agriculture as both a technically feasible and economically viable business venture should be emphasised in the curriculums of our teaching institutions.
(vi) Continuous farmer training - The mandate of the FTC will be to promote awareness of technology advancement and educate farmers continuously on developments in agriculture. The FTC must cater for residential courses and be equipped with audiovisual and publishing facilities for production of films, radio programmes and newsletters that can be disseminated through the media.
The Crop Improvement Programme and the Extension Service units of the MOA in collaboration with research agencies must create programmes that have applicability to existing farming conditions in cognizance of the varying levels of farmers economic resources. Priority must be placed on developing agronomic programmes for crop varieties that have assured markets (particularly export markets). Cropping systems that allow for continuous supply of those food crops that are traditionally seasonal must also get attention.
Specifics for consideration are: water management; control of weeds, pests and diseases; fertilizer application and soil fertility; land preparation; planting methods; harvesting; and crop suitability for various ecological and climatic zones.
Government should be committed to self-sufficiency in local germplasm supply. The programme towards self-sufficiency must address collection, characterisation, certification and varietal improvement. If importation must continue in the short run, then strict guidelines are needed for quality standards, adaptability and phytosanitation. The promotion of germplasm collection and storage of crop types specific to Guyana, which are characterised as 'exotics', need also to be highlighted.
Germplasm supply has an enormous potential for cost recovery. Government can attempt to remove subsidies in this venture, which may cause farmers to be more careful in the handling and care of purchased planting material.
Prepare and conduct a survey on the main pests and diseases affecting local crops.
Develop programmes to control, prevent and eradicate major pests and diseases identified in the survey. Help should be solicited from international agencies in developing a cooperative programme between the relevant agencies (Customs, Plant Quarantine Services, research and developmental agencies) to ensure execution of functions and success of the programme.
Organise workshops for critical pest and disease problems, and appraise crop farmers on incidence, locations, and control methods on a timely basis.
Strengthen, train and equip plant quarantine staff. Revise plant quarantine laws to provide greater authority to officers in the execution of duties, and open new surveillance points across the country's borders to restrict the entry of pests and diseases.
The Government should seek continuing international cooperation in the field of non-traditional crops and livestock. The programme of IICA has been a particularly encouraging example in this regard.
1. Nutrition
a. Feed Supplies
(i) Energy-based Feeds - The production of alternative energy feeds (low quality rice, corn, sorghum, or cassava) to counteract the decline in supply of rice and wheat by-products must be pursued. Private investment should be encouraged, and governmental support can be given via deployment of rice export levies into infrastructural development for such a venture.
(ii) Protein Feeds - A rendering plant is needed to produce high protein meat meals from the adequate quantities of fish, poultry, swine and ruminant processing wastes that are presently discarded.
(iii) Pasturage - The estimated 270,000 head cattle, 300,000 head sheep and 150,000 head goat population of Guyana require 200,000 acres (90,000 ha) of pasture to support it adequately. Efforts must be made to improve the productivity from the saline soils to the north or the acid soils farther inland that are presently available on the coast for livestock rearing.
Moreover, research must continue in developing nutritious forage species adaptable to soil conditions. Land use capability studies should seek to show the most appropriate areas for livestock rearing.
(iv) The Guyana Stock Feed (GSF) Limited needs to be given more autonomy in decision making to increase its competitiveness via prompt reaction to market conditions. If this cannot be achieved, Government should seek ways to privatise the entity.
b. Education
An animal nutrition project that aims at educating farmers on correct feeding principles should be undertaken collaboratively by all relevant agencies (MOA, NDDP, CARDI and IICA). Classroom and practical training sessions are necessary to create awareness and eradicate the multitude of misleading and uneconomical practices that prevail. Ongoing extension programmes in this area are vital.
2. Animal Health
The Veterinary Laboratory at Mon Repos should be rehabilitated to provide all the services needed for disease surveillance and laboratory diagnostics. Diseases of immediate concern are tuberculosis, bovine paralytic rabies and brucellosis, since clinical evidence points to their presence in Guyana. The laboratory staff must also be involved in disease eradication programmes and in developing systems of herd health prophylaxis. Clients should be charged for services.
Clearance for export of beef from Guyana hinges on proper abattoir facilities, a functional diagnostic laboratory, and well-equipped field veterinarians. Guyana should seek to put in place these recommendations and initiate beef exports. Increased rates for slaughtering can provide the finance necessary to improve the conditions at the abattoirs and to maintain inspection programmes.
The Government should improve on emoluments to veterinary staff, and provide transportation and facilities to allow them to execute their functions. Charging for drugs and surgical procedures could impose some degree of cost recovery. Core funding, however, must remain as the responsibility of the Ministry of Agriculture.
A survey of the health status of all livestock in Guyana should be undertaken as a priority measure.
3. Genetic Improvement
The livestock development programme for Guyana must include an Animal Breeding Unit, and this should be under the jurisdiction of the Government. The unit can support itself by the sale of breeding stock; charges for artificial insemination; and donor-financed projects.
It is important that breeds be fully identified, breed performances be evaluated, and cross-breeding programmes be established to derive optimal performance parameters. In sheep, the Corentyne white breed has shown superiority on empirical evidence. A complete study should be carried out to measure all technical performance parameters of this breed. Other proven tropical breeds for sheep, goat and pigs should be introduced to upgrade local performances and studies are needed to evaluate performance. It is also necessary to introduce tropically adapted breeds into a national breeding programme.
4. Management
Extension services must be fully functional and integrated to obtain any improvement in farm management practices. Rural households need to be enthused into improving their quality of life. Proven management packages tested for practical applicability and financial feasibility must be provided to farmers for adoption. Integrated farming systems should be encouraged, to allow farmers to market produce and be self sufficient in their household requirements for meat, milk and vegetables.
1. 0Self sufficiency here relates to importation of these products and not the per capita consumption ratio.
2. 0Calculated at 1 lb/livestock unit/day for cattle, and 10% of diet for poultry with a feed conversion ratio of 2.3.