Dear Editor,
Robert Persaud, the Minister of Agriculture, has made tremendous progress since he took office in September 2006. He successfully administers the largest ministry – Agriculture, Fisheries and Drainage and Irrigation – in the country. Thanks to his hard work Guyana now enjoys improved drainage and irrigation, record rice exports, an expansion of agricultural production in the hinterland, a successful ‘Grow More Food’ campaign and the continued viability of the sugar industry. Clearly, the Minister has made presidential strides.
Drainage and irrigation in Guyana has improved significantly since the Great Flood of 2005. The National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) is an expanded responsibility for the Minister. Previously, it was always under a separate ministry. The Minister continues to work tirelessly to strengthen the conservancy. NDIA now has a fleet of 56 earth excavators and several pontoons that are continuously clearing silt from blocking key drainage facilities. The Minister’s most ambitious project is the US$15 million Hope Drainage Canal which was commissioned by President Bharrat Jagdeo last October. This project demonstrates vision and courage, which are essential traits of leadership. The Minister is not content to rest on his success of reducing the flood but is looking to improve the nation’s drainage efficiency so that the Mahaica, Mahaicony and Abary communities can be free of flooding. This is a huge presidential stride by Minister Persaud.
The rice industry in Guyana recorded its highest export of 320,000 tonnes in 2010. This was due to the collective efforts of our diligent rice farmers and the hard-working Minister. He is constantly in the fields interacting with the farmers. This permits him to understand their issues and to respond positively. Of course, it takes a young and energetic person to traverse our dear land. Minister Persaud was responsible for the administration of 40 training schools, the introduction of water management to the farmers and new water-resistant strains of rice. Several outreach meetings were used by the Minister to educate and enhance the farmers’ management of the paddy bug through the rice-growing regions. The Minister’s efforts contributed record rice production in 2010. As the world demand for food increases, Guyana is well positioned. This is another presidential stride by Robert Persaud.
Minister Persaud’s vision for Guyana’s agriculture sector has now taken on international significance. Ever since the Minister successfully launched the Grow More Food campaign, governments around the world are implementing various measures to address food shortages and quell food-price increases. China installed price caps on cooking and vegetables oils. Russia banned the export of wheat. India struck a deal with Pakistan to import onions. Jordan imposed price caps on sugar and rice. Algeria cut import duties on sugar and cooking oil. Vietnam set price controls on milk, sugar, rice and animal feed.
The continuing growth of food shortages around the world is real. Guyana was very fortunate that the Minister had the vision for the Grow More Food campaign and the administrative skills to successfully implement it.
The United Nations has announced that its Global Food Price Index has been rising steadily since 2008. The rise has been primarily due to bad weather in agricultural countries. There have been droughts in Russia, Ukraine and Argentina while Pakistan and Australia have been suffering from flooding. It is not just the human population that is suffering from the rise in food costs.
The rise in animal feed costs due to crop failures has caused farmers to switch to cheaper feeds like grass and silage. Even the United States has not been spared. The US Department of Agriculture is predicting that food staples – milk, flour sugar, beef and poultry – prices to rise this year.
Those small kitchen gardens and large commercial plots of land have gone a long way to ensure that Guyana can avoid the global food shortage. Indeed, it was another Presidential stride by Robert Persaud that has made this possible.
Under Robert Persaud’s leadership, Guyana’s rice industry has grown to such an extent that it now rates as the second most important agricultural industry in the country. A major milestone for agriculture in the Rupununi was reached as the harvesting of 82 acres of paddy expected to yield between 65 to 70 tonnes of rice commenced at Moco-Moco, This pilot project in the flatlands bordered by the towering Kanuku Mountains show the leadership and vision of Minister Persaud.
It had always been the vision of Dr Jagan that the Amerindians should be self-sufficient. Robert Persaud is making Dr Jagan’s vision a reality. As the Americans would say, “It’s time to big up da man.”
Clearly, Robert Persaud is now well positioned to take the next quantum leap to being the PPP presidential candidate in the next general election. As the protégé of the great Bharrat Jagdeo, Robert Persaud has the personality, intellect and leadership ability to take Guyana forward. To quote a Rastafarian friend of mine,“I and I give ‘im nuff respect, I.”
Yours faithfully,
Vijay P Kumar
