The Ministry of Agriculture recently last month provided $18 million in equipment and furniture to the Ministry of Health’s Food and Drug Department to help enhance its capacity.
The Government Information Agency (GINA) stated in a press release that
Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud said the contribution was part of the ministry’s Agriculture Diversification Programme, adding that the thrust is now on sustainable markets that are value-added.
Once the move is made into the area of processed food, the existence of the Food and Drug Department in carrying out various analyses is important, GINA said.
The Agriculture Diversification Program-me aims at building a robust system where monitoring, evaluation, and tests can be carried out in an effort to accelerate the ministry’s export drive while breaking into new markets.
Persaud added that the Food and Drug Department is very important since it ensures that products are tested, certified, and the necessary paper work for the export market is completed.
It is in the ministry’s interest that the department is supported as this will result in its modernisation and having it equipped to carry out its mandate since food safety is a concern not only to consumers in Guyana but increasingly in the export market.
The contribution is the first of several that the agriculture ministry will be presenting to the department, GINA said.
Assistance has been expended since there is a greater demand for products exported to reach certain requirements and so the ministry is working towards ensuring that agencies and institutions in Guyana have the necessary equipment, GINA noted.
Persaud said the Agriculture Diversifi-cation Programme, which is just over US$21 billion, takes a very holistic approach, focusing not only on building capacity of the ministry, but in giving support to other government agencies.
The programme has seen substantial investments being made in the ministry’s pesticide lab and the construction of a US$1 million animal health lab and other facilities.
Director of the Food and Drug Department Marilyn Collins observed that the agency’s role is to provide science-based information that will support public health policy and import-export inspection certificates of agricultural produce.
With the equipment contributed by the agriculture ministry, the lab will be better equipped to carry out the necessary tests and support the veterinary public health department in its surveillance programmes in fish, aquaculture, and meat.
She added that as Guyana moves towards value-added products the role of the Food and Drug Department will be re-strengthened, so that the necessary certification of those products can be issued, GINA concluded.
