President Irfaan Ali yesterday told residents of Ruby Village, East Bank Essequibo that the government is aiming to position Guyana as a main hub for food supply to the entire Caribbean region and Ruby Backland can play a crucial part.
According to the Department of Public Information (DPI), Ali said the government will continue to support the expansion of agriculture in these communities.
President Ali made these statements during a community engagement with residents.
He told the residents that the lands in their area are of high value and can be utilised for the production of high value crops, which can in turn provide more income to farmers.
“In the horticulture industry, you know, one of the things about these communities, you have large lots. How can you capitalise on these lands to be more productive, to bring in more income? How can we bring in the Ministry of Agriculture maybe to help in the capital equipment and create ponds?” he questioned.
This will lay the groundwork to attain food security and meet CARICOM’s target of reducing the high food import bill by 25 per cent by the year 2025, he asserted.
Meanwhile, issues surrounding drainage and irrigation, infrastructure and water were raised by residents, which the head of state committed to addressing.
The president was accompanied by Minister within the Ministry of Public Works Deodat Indar, Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Nigel Dharamlall, Chief Executive Officer of the Guyana Water Inc, Shaik Baksh and private sector representatives.
