Guyana’s farmers can contribute to regional food security – President David Granger

By Michelle Nurse On Feb 12, 2017

By His Excellency David A Granger MSS

The world is likely to face a food crisis by 2050 unless agricultural production increases. The Food and Agriculture Organisation estimates that there will be an additional two billion mouths to feed in the world within the next thirty-five years. The growth of the world’s population along with increased urbanisation is expected to increase the demand for agricultural produce by some 70 per cent by 2050.

The ability of many countries to meet this demand will be affected by climate change. The global phenomenon of climate change is resulting in increased desertification and the depletion of freshwater supplies.

Guyana’s abundance of land and freshwater supplies for agricultural purposes places it in an enviable position to take advantage of the increased demand for food globally.

Opportunities for increased agricultural markets exist within the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). The Region’s agriculture’s sector share of Gross Development Product (GDP) declined from 13 percent to 7 percent, over the last 25 years.