Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha, today met with livestock farmers from communities along the East Coast of Demerara as part of the Ministry’s continued efforts to engage directly with producers, hear their concerns and identify practical interventions to support the growth and sustainability of the livestock sector.
During the engagement, farmers raised a number of issues affecting their operations, including the availability and accessibility of suitable pasture lands for cattle, drainage and irrigation challenges affecting agricultural areas, and the need for suitable facilities or designated areas where fishers and farmers can safely and hygienically dry fish.
The farmers also highlighted the importance of ensuring that agricultural lands remain productive and accessible, particularly as they seek to expand production and meet the growing demand for locally produced meat, milk and other agricultural products.
Minister Mustapha said the concerns raised will be examined immediately by the relevant technical agencies within the Ministry, with the aim of identifying areas where interventions can be made in the shortest possible time. He said particular attention will be given to issues relating to pasture availability and the rehabilitation and maintenance of drainage and irrigation infrastructure, which are critical to sustaining livestock and agricultural production.
The Minister further noted that where concerns fall outside the direct mandate of the Ministry of Agriculture, these will be brought to the attention of the relevant Cabinet colleagues and agencies so that a coordinated response can be pursued.
Minister Mustapha reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to working closely with farmers and other stakeholders to remove the constraints affecting production and create an environment in which the livestock sector can expand. He said engagements of this nature are important because they allow policymakers and technical officers to hear directly from producers and develop solutions based on the realities they face on the ground.
The engagement forms part of the Ministry of Agriculture’s ongoing farmer-outreach programme, which seeks to strengthen communication with producers, respond to challenges affecting their livelihoods and ensure that Government’s agricultural policies and interventions translate into tangible support for farmers across the country. (Source: Ministry of Agriculture-Guyana)
