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Guyana has called on the regional authorities to move beyond talks as the country moves closer to unveiling a 10-year national food and nutrition security plan.Several of the country’s top administrators, representatives of CARICOM, the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and others, gathered Friday at the Guyana International Convention Centre (GICC) during a presentation of the draft plan which is aimed at improving the food situation locally.According to findings of a team that was charged with designing the draft plan, while Guyana is a net exporter of food, it still faces some elements of food and nutrition insecurity. It was explained that food security does not only mean availability but also includes access and nutrition.Among the distinguished gathering at the GICC were Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, Minister of Agriculture, Robert Persaud, Health Minister, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, and Minister of Amerindian Affairs, Pauline Sukhai,nhl jerseys outlet, whose presence gave clear indications that the issue is being tackled in a multi-sectoral manner.It was pointed out that for food security to exist there must be stable access, availability and correct use of food.While low levels of production could lead to shortages including to agricultural income, it was noted that a well stocked market means little for shoppers who do not have enough money or are not healthy enough.According to Minister Persaud, Guyana was among three countries in the Latin America and Caribbean regions, that significantly reduced poverty levelsWarning that Guyana could ill-afford to be complacent, the official drew reference to the 1980s when food supplies were tight, with rice and sugar production dropping below 100,000 tonnes annually.The situation now has improved dramatically with over 330,000 tonnes rice exported last year, which meant that almost 80% of the rice produced has been shipped – one of the highest in terms of percentage.However, Persaud stressed that despite the 2007-2008 world food shortage that was triggered by the global financial collapse, the Caribbean region had gone back to “business as usual” instead of the crisis serving as a wake-up call.Last year, the region imported US$4B in food. A comprehensive food security plan would not only reduce Guyana’s health cost with healthier citizens, but there will be assurance of the right type of food being available. This year, to complement the drive to diversify the agricultural base, government has allocated $1.5B, he said.Stressing that the draft plan is not a government or party document but rather one for Guyanese, the Minister said that Guyana has significantly reduced its external debts which meant more money for bigger initiatives.As such government is not increasing external debts, but rather increasing resources for Guyanese.Turning his attention to the international community, Persaud drew reference to promises made two years back in Rome, where assistance was pledged to countries affected by the global food shortage, but only a fraction was forthcoming.Persaud stressed that the international community needs to be more serious, with the situation being “still appalling”.With regards to CARICOM, the Minister was also critical, saying that while the body was good at making documents, there is still a gap for implementation.It was emphasized that for Guyana, food security is about prosperity and stability.Earlier, FAO’s expert, Dr. Deep Ford, noted that any plan for food security must be “owned” by the people of Guyana.He lauded the country’s initiative including its agricultural diversification programme, health and Low Carbon Development Strategy.FAO’s Representative to Guyana, Dr. Lystra Fletcher-Paul, disclosed that over time, the UN agency has been lending assistance to Guyana to improve its capacity. She, too, warned for the country not to hurriedly forget the lessons of the food shortages of two years ago.Guyana must think regionally and globally if it is to attain food and nutrition security, she urged.Like Persaud, she acknowledged that the plan would be worthless without resources being made available. She lauded the fact that Guyana has taken an approach that included several ministries and agencies in making the plan a reality.Health Minister, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, also stressed that the food and nutrition security will have to be a collaborative approach within the ministries. However, he argued that it is not about enough food, but about a safe and healthy lifestyle for Guyanese.He cautioned that this year government will be going after food vendors to ensure safer food practices, and opined that Guyanese drastically need to cultivate more healthy eating practices.
