Farmers contributing to price stability - Growing more food despite challenges

Above normal high-intensity rainfall during the December 2008/January 2009 rainy season resulted in many farmers across the coastland being adversely affected.
The Ministry of Agriculture embarked on several initiatives, which together, aimed to mitigate flood conditions and ensure that farmers’ did not suffer excessive losses due high volumes of crops being inundated and ultimately lost.
In this regard, under the directive of Minister of Agriculture, Robert Persaud, the Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC) invited all affected farmers to participate in a ‘farmers’ market’ exercise which saw the daily sale of a wide variety of fresh fruits and vegetables being conducted at GMC’s Robb and Alexander Streets location.
Farmers from various communities participated, including Kuru Kuru, Friendship,
Consumers flock to purchase hundreds of pounds of fresh fruit and vegetable supplied by farmers

Caneville, Canal Number Two Polder and Parika, East Bank Essequibo.
Consumers were also encouraged to take advantage of the activity since a wide range of produce was being sold at affordable prices.       
Minister Persaud had acknowledged that during the rainy season, a disruption in vegetable production was noted, but while data indicated there was not a countrywide shortage, he said an imbalance existed in availability, particularly in city markets.    
            To address this problem, GMC had deployed teams to identify locations where supply was not affected, in an effort to make provision for other areas which saw a temporary dip.
            The farmers’ market exercise also served to assist farmers who  had large volumes of produce due to an increase in production following the launch of the Grow More Food campaign in March 2008.
            This campaign resulted in a marked increase in crops and livestock production which was evident from the stabilization of prices locally following the onset of the global food crisis.
            There was also no need for the importation of key commodities such as chicken and eggs during the Christmas season since the increased livestock production was able to meet the heightened demand.
            Despite the challenges and effects of heavy rainfall on low lying communities, farmers with assistance from government,  continue to contribute to the growth and development of  the agriculture sector. 

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