11M euro grant for Guyana, Suriname rice industries signed
by Jaime Hall
Guyana Chronicle
May 15, 2004
GUYANA will begin to benefit from 11.7 million euro grant to support the competitiveness of the rice industry in the Caribbean following yesterday's signing of an agreement between the EU and the Government.
The signing took place at the Ministry of Agriculture boardroom. It gives the go-ahead for the setting up of an office of the Guyana Project Management Unit on rice that will operate from the Ministry of Agriculture building, Georgetown.
The work of this office here would be to enhance the competitive position of rice industry, improve productivity, management, research, training and marketing.
But the overall objective of the programme is to develop competitiveness of the Caribbean rice industry, leading to economic development in the region, ministry officials have said. An initial financing agreement on this programme was signed in December 2003.
Ms. Helen Jenkenson, Charge d' Affaires of the EU Delegation during the signing, noted that rice is a key industry to Guyana and promised that the EU will give its full backing for such projects.
The signing for the work programme will allow for staff to be in place to start the operation, which will include looking at drainage and irrigation, and the holding of seminars with all stakeholders in the rice industry such as farmers, millers and exporters.
Minister Satyadeow Sawh, who holds the portfolio for agriculture, said rice is a very important industry for Guyana and any positive intervention into the sector can only serve to further strengthen efforts already undertaken to create a viable and sustainable industry.
He noted that there are many challenges confronting the industry to compete in the now globalized world economy, and the EU through its Ninth EU Development Fund, has put aside 24 million euros to support the strategic development of CARIFORUM rice industry.
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, Mr. Dindyal Permaul, said at the signing ceremony that the programme ranks as one of the most significant the ministry has undertaken.
The programme will allow for specific results to be generated within a four-and-a-half month period.