Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha delivered the feature address at the launch of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s (GCCI) Micro and Women Entrepreneur Learning Centre.
While offering remarks, Minister Mustapha said that although agriculture is largely viewed as a labor-intensive, male-dominated field, Guyanese women have, for years, been involved in agricultural activities. He also said the government’s current agricultural diversification strategy involves 35% women and 30% youths.
“It is this government’s vision that by 2030, at least 50% of newly established agribusiness ventures should be led by women and youths,” he stated.
He further noted that the Ministry of Agriculture is currently collaborating with the Canadian Government and the FAO to implement the Gender-responsive Climate-smart Agriculture and Food Systems in the Caribbean Project, which aims to promote and encourage the use of climate-smart technologies in viable agricultural value chains.
“The activities under this project will prioritize the needs of youth, women, and producer organizations, ensure equal access to capacity building and training activities, and develop knowledge products that will enhance learning in several areas,” he explained.
(Source: Ministry of Agriculture)
