By Kurt Campbell
[www.inewsguyana.com] – Guyanese applauded when it was announced on October 20 that the country had recorded a production of 499,000 tons of rice so far for 2013.
Today, October 29 more applause rang out when Agriculture Minister Dr. Leslie Ramsammy announced that Guyana surpassed a rice production of 500,000 tons and has now recorded a ‘record breaking’ production of approximately 522,000 tons, breaking away from its production of 422,000 tons for 2012 by a 1000 ton margin.
Dr. Ramsammy said this achievement has put the critics to shame who assumed that the country will not reach such a target until 2020. “This is an astounding story that all of Guyana should be proud of,” he added.
Rice has become one of the star performers in the agriculture sector with successive record-breaking production since 2008.
The Minister said Guyana continues to ensure it produces what is needed in keeping with its goal of attaining food and nutrition security by 2025.
Ramsammy’s comments come at a time when the region and the world is focused on eliminating hunger and achieving food security in some of the most poverty stricken countries in the hemisphere.
He also expressed sentiments reminding of Guyana’s attainment of the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) to reduce poverty and hunger for which has been awarded by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) for being among the first 17 countries to achieve the MDG.
“Guyana has many success stories in the area of food production that all of Guyana should be proud of and celebrate.”
