Dear Editor,
One hopes that the relevant decision-makers will pay close attention to Fritz McLean’s letter, published in SN of July 24, titled: “The timelines set for reducing food imports may not be achievable”. It consists of a most constructive range of advice that must be taken urgently. In the process the implications must include the provision of substantive education and training in related agriculture production areas. So that one is anxious to learn about the appropriate developmental prospects for relevant institutions as the: a) Guyana School of Agriculture; b) National Agricultural Research & Extension Institute, and c) the Guyana Livestock Development Authority, to make the appropriate contributions. The decision-makers should take advantage of Mr. McLean’s well established specialist experience in agriculture, and that of related colleagues (including from overseas) to craft a comprehensive strategic development plan that would address a range of issues, including the following:
investment in enlarged research capacity development of specialist marketing skills relevant to identified produce
creation of a Caricom Agriculture Development Bank to resource and manage funding of the various projects, through specific legally registered producers.
Sincerely,
E.B. John
