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Food prices consultations being held in Guyana
Date Posted: April 21, 2008
Georgetown,
GINA, - Ministers of the Government of Guyana are conducting
nationwide consultations on rising food prices. The latest
occurred at the end of last week in Administrative Region #2
.
Minister within the Ministry of Education, Dr. Desrey Fox;
Minister within the Ministry of Health, Dr. Bheri Ramsaran
and Minister of Labour Manzoor Nadir engaged residents at
Charity, Anna Regina and Huist T’Dieren in public
discussion.
Residents were told about the worldwide rising food prices
which are the result of rising oil prices, an increasing
demand for food by First World populations, the use of food
resources for alternative energy and climate change.
Minister Nadir told residents that food shortage should not
be equated with less production.
It was noted that Guyana has an advantage in the current
crisis because of its small population. The country will not
face a food shortage because crops produced will be adequate
to satisfy local demands and be ample for export.
It was reiterated by Ministers that people need to “go to
the land and produce.” Minister Fox said Guyana has a rich
agricultural tradition and with sufficient land, citizens
can produce their own food. She encouraged residents not to
give up subsistence farming.
Minister Ramsaran highlighted that Government has always
been alert to the possibility of rising food prices and
therefore took several initiatives to ensure that Guyanese
were not greatly affected.
There has been the removal of price controls: the excise tax
on diesel has been zero-rated; and the rate of tax applied
to gasoline has been reduced. Additionally, Government has
begun investment to acquire low-consumption fuel equipment.
In the 2008 Budget there was the zero-rating of additional
food items.
With the current consultations Government hopes to get
public input on additional measures which could be taken.
Some of the recommendations were better extension services
in the region and more field visits by agricultural officers
to provide farmers with technical assistance.
There should be continuous works in drainage and irrigation
since communities are greatly affected by recurring floods.
Farmers noted that Government should assist them in
accessing international markets to export their produce;
there is need for a processing and preservation plant in the
region.
Residents urged Government to research and provide
information on the possibility of rice production in hilly
regions. Information should also be provided on the
possibility of local wheat production.
There was a plea for an increase in salaries. In response to
this Ministers said government has increased the tax
threshold from $30,000 to $35,000.
Residents suggested that there should be more awareness of
programmes being implemented by the Government.
They were informed that efforts are being made by the
agriculture sector to “Grow More” food. This campaign is
aimed at meeting external market demands while at the same
time providing in full quantities, affordable vegetables,
fruits, fresh meat and fish to local consumers..
At all of the consultations residents expressed a need for
more land. Farmers said there should be a better policy in
land allocation. It was suggested that time-frames should be
given for land development after they are acquired. If this
is not done, they should be repossessed and given to
farmers.
Ministers noted that efforts are being made by the Ministry
of Housing to repossess lands.
In addition to government’s efforts, residents were
cognisant that they also needed to play a part to deal with
the increasing food prices. One resident said, “For us who
don’t have, let us start our kitchen gardens so that we can
provide for our family and the community at large.”
Another suggested that there should be a holistic, rather
than individualistic approach to cushion the impact of the
rising food prices.
The countrywide inter-Ministerial committees’ consultations
are an initiative of President Bharat Jagdeo.
Georgetown,
GINA, - Ministers of the Government of Guyana are conducting
nationwide consultations on rising food prices. The latest
occurred at the end of last week in Administrative Region #2
.