Guyana, India to create a regional agri-tech campus to expand the agriculture sector

President, Dr Mohamed

Irfaan Ali said the strong bilateral relationship between India and Guyana will continue to produce fruitful outcomes.

As part of its efforts to expand the agriculture sector, President Ali noted that a regional agri-tech campus will be created to support the regional food hub. This is in keeping with the government’s commitment to advance the region’s food security strategy.

This was highlighted by the president during his address at the 74th anniversary of the Republic of India, hosted by the Indian High Commission in Guyana, recently.

He highlighted the discussions were comprehensive and covered areas related to the oil and gas sector.

Dr Ali underscored the discussions with Bangalore Bio-Innovation Centre will help to build Guyana’s agriculture sector with an ecosystem that includes a regional food hub.

This forms part of an ambitious strategy to stimulate a biotech ecosystem to expand the agriculture sector.

Additionally, this will help to create an agri-tech campus that will deal with the technological aspect, research and development, technology, human resource training, and improvement in policies that will lead to greater yield and productivity.

Over the next few months, President Ali noted a plethora of measures aimed at creating a new ecosystem centred around agriculture, which will focus on high-value, new areas, and innovation.

He added that technological innovation plays an integral role in nation-building.

The head of state underlined that Guyana is building a food production and agriculture system on a platform that will make it competitive and resilient to operate in an economy in 2023 and beyond.

The president noted that his administration will continue to position Guyana to be a strong, responsible leader, regionally and internationally, on the environment, climate, energy, and food security, among other areas. “We must find strategic partners bilaterally, to work with us on a government-to-government relationship, and basis to advance the energy sector.

This is a policy position of a country and communities to build. What I can say to you is you can rely on us to be with you….We don’t profess only to love the people; we work to show we love you. We labour to show we love you, and that won’t change.”

During discussions with the residents, the President announced that the Government would ensure that sporting facilities and playgrounds in schools in the region are repaired and renovated.

He said the Government is also examining a number of other sporting facilities that will be upgraded and the building of “a new stadium”.

It was also announced that an assessment will be done to determine where smart televisions can be set up in classrooms to enhance education delivery.

In addition to the infrastructure, agriculture and other major projects that will be done in the region, the President noted that creating a mindset that is positive, families and communities that are strong and communities and people that are respectful to each other are also equally important.

“When we understand that all of us must be a collective whole in presenting the solution to our problems, then is when we will achieve fulness of development and fulness of happiness,” he stressed.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the Honourable Hugh Todd; the Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, the Honourable Nigel Dharamlall; National Security Advisor, Captain Gerry Gouveia and other Government officials were also at the meeting.