Guyana’s involvement with EU forest governance, trade programme a stepping stone for country’s future
–Minister Persaud

Minister of Agriculture, Robert Persaud has emphasised the need for society to protect Guyana’s rain forest; since it is of tremendous importance, not only as a contributor to the timber and forest product sector, but also in the fight against climate change.


Minister of Agriculture, Robert Persaud (third from right), flanked by Representative of the European Union, facilitator of FLEGT, John Bruneval, Member of the National Toshao Council, Yvonne Perason, President of the Forest Product Association, Hilbertos Cort, Chairman of the Guyana Forestry Commission Board, Raj Singh and Charge de’ Affairs of EU delegation to Guyana, Norbert Probst

            Referring to President Bharrat Jagdeo’s advocacy at the United Nations recently; for the recognition and role the forest plays in the climate change fight to be underscored, Minister Persaud said Guyana’s engagement with the European Union (EU) Forest Governance and Trade is a major stepping stone to determine the country’s next step.
            The Minister was at the time delivering the feature address at the Guyana Forestry Commission’s national workshop today; at the Guyana International Conference Centre, Liliendaal.
            The workshop drew participants from the European Union, Forest Law Enforcement Governance and Trade Programme (EU FLEGT), Forest Product Association (FPA), Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC), National Toshaos Council (NTC), and the Private Sector.


Attendes, during the closing ceremony of the Guyana Forestry Commission’s national workshop, at the Guyana International Conference Centre, Liliendaal.

            The initiative is the second such engagement with Guyana and the EU FLEGT for 2010.
            “As part of our commitment to consultation, the main purpose was to share information and better inform local stakeholders about EU FLEGT as we explore Guyana’s possible engagement in EU FLEGT with an aim of entering into a Voluntary Partnership Agreement, ” Minister Persaud said.
            He told the gathering that the Head of State at the 65th session of the United Nations General Assembly recently emphasised that if the international community is prepared to be held accountable, developing countries will not be found lacking.
            Guyana signed a MoU with the Government of Norway, which would outline a cooperation framework for the next five years.
And according to the Minister with responsibility for forestry, today’s activity is in keeping with Guyana’s commitment to the MoU, which would see a commencement with the EU for a formal dialogue on its Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade processes and the Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA).


Minister of Agriculture, Robert Persaud delivering at the Guyana Forestry Commission’s national workshop, at the Guyana International Conference Centre, Liliendaal.

            The Minister while indicating that the EU has always been an important region for the country’s forest products export; said that Guyana’s total forest products for 2009 were valued US$4.55M.
            Already for the first half of this year, the export rate has reached US$3.35M compared to US$1.5M for 2009. Guyana’s total export value to the EU accounts for approximately 14 percent of Guyana’s total forest export market in terms of value for the first six months of this year.
             “The 14 percent accounts for dressed and undressed lumber, piles and a small amount of splitwood, however, there is notably no log export to the European market for 2010 thus far.”
             Representative of the European Union, facilitator of FLEGT, John Bruneval while noting that the workshop which was deemed positive is a starting point, however, said there is a need for more internal debates.
            While indicating that the way forward is a choice for society, Bruneval said that the initiative is a good basis to think of technical issues to assist the implementation.
            Meanwhile, the workshop was appreciated by President of the Forest Product Association, Hilbertos Cort and Chairperson of the National Toshaos Council, Yvonne Pearson who both said that there should be no difficulty in progress being made under the EU FLEGT.

Japanese team expected in October to conclude assessment of EDWC
- use of technology under consideration

A fourth mission from Japan is expected in Guyana next month to conduct a final assessment of the East Demerara Water Conservancy (EDWC) which serves the functions of a flood control structure and a source of irrigation for agricultural lands during the dry season.
            The team’s supportive role which aims to strengthen the conservancy banks follows a US$6.7M Joint Declaration on Enhanced Co-operation in Environment and Climate Change issues that were made between the two countries after President Bharrat Jagdeo and then Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe met in 2007.


President Bharrat Jagdeo meets Japanese Ambassador to Guyana Tatsuaki Iwata at State House

            Japanese Ambassador to Guyana Tatsuaki Iwata met President Bharrat Jagdeo at State House today to discuss the next step in efforts to strengthen the EDWC and the prospects of reaching a conclusion.
He told the Government Information Agency (GINA) that Japanese engineering experts are at present mulling whether technological innovation can be applied to the effort.
“If that element is clear it will tell us what kind of construction method will be adopted and will tell us what kind of technology we utilize for fortifying the banks,” Ambassador Iwata said.
Upon the conclusion of the team’s assessment, a final plan will be crafted qualifying Guyana to benefit from the procurement of equipment, earthen works with the EDWC and rehabilitation of critical drainage structures.
 This includes possible support for the construction of the Cunha Canal, even as the government proceeds with the northern relief channel at Hope/Dochfour to increase the discharge capacity of the EDWC. Work is slated to begin on the latter on October 1.
 In July last year Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud met with a preparatory study mission from the Japanese Government to follow up on support for the EDWC and its associated drainage and irrigation structures.
The Japanese team was headed by Goya Yoshiyuki, the Executive Technical Advisor to the Director General of the Rural Development Department, of JICA. Technical experts from Japan are working closely with the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority to boost its capacity.
The EDWC is a major freshwater impoundment located in Region Four, 15 miles south of the most densely populated sections of Guyana. It is bounded to the north by a 40-mile earthen dam structure and south by the natural topographic rise composed largely of ancient coastal dune formations.
The conservancy serves two purposes; first as a flood control structure which prevents water from the back lands invading the coast during the rainy season; and second as a source of irrigation for the agricultural lands during the dry season


President Bharrat Jagdeo and Japanese Ambassador to Guyana Tatsuaki Iwata in discussions at State House

The floods of 2005 had resulted in overtopping of the conservancy and prompted action by government to upgrade and strengthen the structure through a number of projects.
One such imminent project is the construction of an outfall channel at Hope that will be of enough capacity to relieve the pressure on the conservancy.
Meanwhile, heavy reliance has been on sea defence drainage and irrigation structures and mangroves to protect the coastland from the Atlantic. Extreme events such as hurricanes have however, resulted in erosion of the earthen embankment, mud ripples along the coast and uprooting of the mangroves.
Over the years government has expended about US$30M for capital and rehabilitation works for sea defence, some of which has been supported by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) the Department for International Development (DFID) and the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB).
           

Guyana’s Food Security Strategy to be launched as part of Agriculture Month activities

October is Agriculture Month in Guyana and several activities are to be staged in highlighting the achievements of the sector and to give farmers, agro-processors, among other stakeholders, an opportunity to showcase their products.
            Chairperson of the Agriculture Coordinating Committee (ACC), Basdeo Dwarka updated media operatives during a press briefing in the Agriculture Ministry’s Boardroom today; on planned activities for Agriculture Month 2010. This year’s theme is “Fighting global hunger through Agriculture Diversification in Guyana.”
            Guyana is known as a country that is food secure, and according to Dwarka, by increasing agriculture production through the Ministry’s Agricultural Export Diversification Programme (ADP), efforts to combat world hunger can be achieved.
            The month’s activities are also in keeping with the Food and Agriculture Organisation’s theme for World Food Day “United against hunger.”
            He noted that recognition will be given to livestock development, and the Livestock Development Authority. There will be distribution of livestocks and a bee forum.
            “With respect to fruits and vegetables the National Agricultural Research Institute’s (NARI’s), facilities will be commissioned, that will be aiding and driving fruits and vegetables. We will also have a Pesticide and Residue and Safety forum with the health aspect by the Pesticide Board during that period,” he said.
            Aquaculture is also one method of diversifying the future of the local agricultural economy, as it possesses the potential to become one of the country’s leading export earner. In line with this, a day will be dedicated to Aquaculture where officials will be touring and inspecting several farms countrywide.
            In the area of Drainage and Irrigation, Dwarka pointed out that the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA), will also be playing a key role noting that, “The NDIA will be having their say and we will be kicking off with them for the Hope Dochfour Canal.”
At Moleson Creek 3000 hectares for private farmers will be drained.
            The activities of the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB), GuySuCo and the Guyana Forestry Commission will be highlighted and as such, emphasis will be placed on non-timber products. A two-day forestry community seminar will be held in the Forestry Complex in this regard.
            Enhancing food security which has been a priority of Government will be boosted as the Ministry of Agriculture will be launching Guyana’s Food Security Strategy, as a main component of activities for Agriculture Month.
            “We will also be having an Appraisal Seminar to further examine our current requirement and the way forward.”
            Meanwhile, General Manager of the New Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC), Nizam Hassan while noting that the Ministry of Agriculture’s presentation at Guyexpo, will be in support of its theme; disclosed that this year the Ministry will not be hosting an agrifest and as such, October 2 is dedicated to the event.
            Hassan stated that the planned activities will be showcasing how the Ministry has re-organised itself towards a value chain approach as it relates to agriculture development.
            This year Guyexpo is being held under the theme “Expanding investments in a sustainable environment.”
            Agencies such as the National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI), Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC), Forest Products Development Marketing Council, New Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC), Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA), Fisheries, Aquaculture and Apiculture and the Hydromet service will be showcasing their products.
            Presentation by the Guyana Mangrove Restoration Committee and the Climate Change Unit will also be done, in keeping with the country’s Low Carbon Development Strategy, which seeks to transform the country’s economy while combating climate change.