Farmers voice concerns in light of climate change

Aware of the fact that climate change has been affecting countries worldwide, the World University Service Canada (WUSC) yesterday held a multistakeholder consultation at Herdmanston Lodge, under the title ‘Environmentally sustainable agriculture’ and theme ‘Sustaining the environment for resilient livelihoods.’ High Commissioner of Canada to Guyana, Lilian Chatterjee, Deputy Project Director, Munish Persaud and several other representatives were present at the important forum.

The programme mainly gave voices to farmers in Regions Two to Six and 10, as it relates to climate change and the impact it has on their livelihood. The farmers delivered presentations on flooding, drought and land issues among others, so that the way forward could be drafted, through new ideas and approaches in a manner that is sustainable. As such, coordinated responses were sought from the stakeholders so as to address the issues highlighted by the farmers. The function also served as an avenue for market actors to propose mechanisms to ensure that environmentally sustainable agriculture continues to get the required attention. Among the market actors were representatives from the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI), Environmental Protection Agency, Caribbean Agriculture Research and Development Institute, Inter-American Institute for Cooperation in Agriculture and the New Guyana Marketing Corporation.

High Commissioner Chatterjee in opening remarks told the gathering that “The PROPEL (Promotion of Regional Opportunities for Produce through Enterprises and Linkages) Project which is implemented by the World University Services of Canada, Caribbean, is part of an eight hundred million dollar regional development programme aimed at fostering the economic prosperity of the Caribbean”.

She said that Canada is committed to aiding economic opportunities for and the resilience of rural women.

It was highlighted during the consultation that in PROPEL, World University Services had developed a project geared at increasing the value of fresh produce and accessing high value markets internationally by CDN$100 Million. The project is six years in duration and will conclude next year. It was funded by the Government of Canada through Global Affairs, Canada and private donors, and was implemented by the University Services of Canada. The Chairperson and Agronomist at PROPEL, Johanna Robertson in her brief remarks disclosed that the entity operates in five focus countries – Guyana, Barbados, Jamaica, Dominica and St. Lucia.

Just last month, a consultation was held to inform women and youths on agricultural business.

(Kaieteur News)