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US$15M IDB loan will boost research in lagging agriculture sector – Minister

Mar 30, 2017 News

By Suraj Narine

Acknowledging that the agriculture sector is behind target,  Agriculture Minister Noel Holder, is confident that the US$15M loan inked between the Government of Guyana (GoG) and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) will provide the necessary boost the sector needs.

The Minister was at the time delivering the feature address at the launch of the Sustainable Agriculture Development Programme (SADP) at his Ministry, Regent and Shiv Chanderpaul Drive, Georgetown yesterday.

This programme consists of three components– generating information for evidence-based policy making and natural resource management;  the strengthening of the agricultural innovation and extension system; and lending support for compliance with sanitary and phyto-sanitary standards.

Research

Minister Holder said that in the past, the Ministry would have allowed agricultural research to have a “lower priority” on its agenda however; component two of the SADP – which will provide the necessary research programmes – will help bring into focus government’s vision for a researched-based agriculture sector.

The component also caters for the construction and rehabilitation of agricultural centres in Regions Nine (Upper Takutu/Upper Essequibo) and Ten (Upper Demerara/Upper Berbice).

Minster Holder said that programmes have been prepared in collaboration with the National Agriculture Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) and the Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA). They will include collaboration with international research institutions.

Attending the launch were IDB representatives, officials from the Ministry of Finance and representatives from agencies that comes under the remit of the Agriculture Ministry including, the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA); NAREI; and the Agriculture Sector Development Unit (ASDU).

The latter will be executing the project.

Objectives of the SADP

It was revealed at the launch yesterday that the long term objective of the programme is to increase the productivity of the agricultural sector while maintaining a sustainable and climate resilient use of natural resources in Guyana.

Further, the programme will aid in the country’s focus on diversifying the agricultural sector and improving its competitiveness and viability.

The Implementation period of the programme is expected to be six years with the main beneficiaries being farmers in Regions Five (Mahaica/Berbice), Nine (Upper Takatu/Upper Essequibo) and Ten (Upper Demerara/Upper Berbice); and the Ministry along with its agencies.

Some 29,000 households are expected to benefit from this initiative.
Below is a breakdown of the loan (Provided by the Agriculture Ministry):

        Activity            Bank

            US$

         Total

           US$

        %                      
Component 1: Information for policy making and natural resource management:               4,170,000  

4,170,000

  

27.8%
Component 2: Strengthening the agricultural innovation and extension system:                   6,398,000  

6,398,000

  

42.7%
Component 3: Support for compliance with Sanitary and phytosanitary standards:                              2,800,000  

2,800,000

  

18.7%
Monitoring and evaluation         400,000             400,000     2.7%
Programme administration      1,232,000          1,232,000     8.2%
Total    15,000,000        15,000,000    100%

 

According to reports, the loan was among four that was signed between the IDB and the State last month. The signings saw US$40M in developmental resources being made available to finance key initiatives within the Agriculture, Business and Health sectors.

The agreements were signed by Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan and President of the IDB, Luis Alberto Moreno at the Headquarters of the IDB in Washington, D.C.
The loan resources is expected to support Government’s developmental agenda of promoting investment; improving connectivity throughout Guyana; diversifying the economy; and providing citizens with quality healthcare and social services.

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