Guyana seeks collaboration to maintain local, regional food security

(Department of Public Information Press Release) Minister of Agriculture, Hon. Zulfikar Mustapha says the Government is making major investments and is collaborating with regional counterparts to maintain food security both locally and in the Region.

Minister Mustapha was delivering the feature address on Tuesday at a National High-Level Dialogue, in preparation for the 2021 United Nations (UN) Food Systems Summit, scheduled for September.

The virtual forum brought together several stakeholders to address the areas needed to enhance the local food system.

“We believe these actions will achieve the long-term transformation of Guyana’s agri-food systems in an oil-based economy.  Transforming our food system in the context of an emerging oil-based economy is no easy task.

Indeed, volatile food prices, changing consumption patterns and socio-economic circumstances, external shocks, challenges with agricultural productivity and the potentially devastating effects of climate change, make it a particularly daunting challenge,” Minister Mustapha said.

President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali had advanced the food production and food security agenda during the 32nd CARICOM Heads of Government meeting in February.

The President had highlighted areas including the removal of technical barriers to trade, the implementation of E-Agriculture Strategies, investments in production, research and development, measures to promote de-risking of the sector and the improvement of transport and logistics.  

Minister Mustapha said those strategies seek to address several key areas, which will drive the transformation of the agri-food system in Guyana and the Region.

Read more at: Department of Public Information

Source: CARICOM TODAY