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Guyana grants 10,000 acres to T&T farmers
l GEORGETOWN
The Guyana government says it is forging ahead with an agreement with Trinidad and Tobago that will allow investors from the twin-island republic to engage in large-scale farming here.
Agriculture Minister Dr Leslie Ramsammy said that discussions were held with his Trinidad and Tobago counterpart Devant Maharaj to push the agreement forward.
Earlier this year, Port of Spain and Georgetown signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) whereby 10,000 acres of land will be made available to investors and farmers of the twin island for agricultural development.
“We are at the beginning of a collaboration that will benefit both countries,” Ramsammy said, adding that no financial investment would be made by either governments, but rather, agricultural and economic activities will be facilitated in both countries.
Ramsammy said that Guyanese farmers would pay about Guy$1,000 (One Guyana dollar = US$0.01 cents) per acre annually depending on the geographical area. He said based on the crop, location and the size of the investment, an arrangement will be made with the Trinidadian Government.
A government statement said that several visits were made and meetings held by officials from both countries and as a result, several commodities were identified that would be best suited for the land. These include corn, soya, cassava, legumes and fish rearing and poultry to some extent.
“We have now agreed on what this collaboration will entail, Trinidad will put out an advisory and the investors will be referred to the Guyana government and the agreement will be finalised,” Ramsammy said.
Guyana has a huge amount of land that can be used for agriculture purposes. Outside of the 500,000 hectares that are under full or some cultivation, there is also the potential for 3.3 million hectares and Ramsammy said now that the commodities have been identified, appropriate land space would be considered within the next two weeks.
But he said the project, would in no way affect small scale farmers but rather provide added opportunities for them.
Maharaj said that the project puts the two countries at the peak of revitalising agriculture in the region.
He said that Trinidad and Tobago would be advertising for agriculture investors, site visits would be arranged, requests for proposals will then be solicited, and thereafter, evaluation would be made by both countries.
Maharaj said he hoped the Trinidadian investors would seize the opportunity because his country has less land available and Guyana offers much more possibilities. —CMC
The Guyana government says it is forging ahead with an agreement with Trinidad and Tobago that will allow investors from the twin-island republic to engage in large-scale farming here.
Agriculture Minister Dr Leslie Ramsammy said that discussions were held with his Trinidad and Tobago counterpart Devant Maharaj to push the agreement forward.
Earlier this year, Port of Spain and Georgetown signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) whereby 10,000 acres of land will be made available to investors and farmers of the twin island for agricultural development.
“We are at the beginning of a collaboration that will benefit both countries,” Ramsammy said, adding that no financial investment would be made by either governments, but rather, agricultural and economic activities will be facilitated in both countries.
Ramsammy said that Guyanese farmers would pay about Guy$1,000 (One Guyana dollar = US$0.01 cents) per acre annually depending on the geographical area. He said based on the crop, location and the size of the investment, an arrangement will be made with the Trinidadian Government.
A government statement said that several visits were made and meetings held by officials from both countries and as a result, several commodities were identified that would be best suited for the land. These include corn, soya, cassava, legumes and fish rearing and poultry to some extent.
“We have now agreed on what this collaboration will entail, Trinidad will put out an advisory and the investors will be referred to the Guyana government and the agreement will be finalised,” Ramsammy said.
Guyana has a huge amount of land that can be used for agriculture purposes. Outside of the 500,000 hectares that are under full or some cultivation, there is also the potential for 3.3 million hectares and Ramsammy said now that the commodities have been identified, appropriate land space would be considered within the next two weeks.
But he said the project, would in no way affect small scale farmers but rather provide added opportunities for them.
Maharaj said that the project puts the two countries at the peak of revitalising agriculture in the region.
He said that Trinidad and Tobago would be advertising for agriculture investors, site visits would be arranged, requests for proposals will then be solicited, and thereafter, evaluation would be made by both countries.
Maharaj said he hoped the Trinidadian investors would seize the opportunity because his country has less land available and Guyana offers much more possibilities. —CMC
