The commissioning of the Parika Agro-Packing Facility and a local office of the Food and Agricultural Organisa-tion (FAO) are two of the activities set to headline this year’s Agriculture Month celebrations.
October is designated Agriculture Month and the theme for this year’s activities is ‘Growing More for Food Security’.
At a press conference held yesterday at the Ministry of Agriculture, Joslyn McKenzie, co-chairman of the planning committee, told members of the local media that this year’s celebration will feature several activities in all ten administrative regions of Guyana. He also said that in several of these initiatives local farmers and agricultural organisations such as the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) and the Rice Producers Association (RPA) will be involved.
According to the schedule, the official launch of Agriculture Month will take place tomorrow with the Commission of the Parika Agro-Packing Facility.
At this gathering, Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud and other local ministers of government will be present along with representatives from local agricultural organisations and local farmers.
McKenzie also highlighted the 28th international observance of World Food Day on October 16, as another major activity within the month.
The theme for the event is: ‘World Food Security: the Challenges of Climate Change and Bio-energy’.
He said that there will also be the launching of the FAO office at Brickdam.
Other activities include a Farmers Exchange Pro-gramme, in which farmers from Regions 2, 3, 4 and 5 will gather in Lesbeholden, Black Bush Polder in Region 6 to discuss various aspects of farming.
According to McKenzie, this forum will present the opportunity for farmers to learn from each other.
Other activities include the launching of a pilot school project to rejuvenate interest in agriculture among young people, a Hydromet/ Climate Change Open Day, the Launching of a Pesticide and Toxic Chemical Control website, a National Agricul-tural Research Institute/ Pesticide and Toxic Chemical Control Board Open Day, Buxton Field Day, a Research Conference, signing of the contract for Enmore Packing Facility, MMA/ADA Open Day, a West Berbice Night, an Agro Energy Presentation, and a Forestry Open Day.
At the Forestry Open Day, participants will be taken to a still to be identified forestry concession where they will learn about all the processing involved in forestry — from tree spotting to harvesting.
The celebrations will conclude on October 31, with the launching of the Agricultural Diversification Project.
