Georgetown: Agriculture Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy said while the use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides are critical for production in the agriculture sector, he is urging farmers to consider replacing the harmful chemicals.
Dr Ramsammy was at the time addressing students at the Guyana School of Agriculture (GSA) at the beginning of Agriculture Month recently.
The Minister noted that Agriculture Month provides an opportunity to begin an accelerated movement towards sustainable technology that will improve agriculture at the family-farming level, as well as at the medium size and mega farming levels.
He outlined that through the GSA, the National Agriculture Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) and the fisheries sector, the Ministry is looking to introduced new technology on the use of bio-fertilisers in agriculture.
Dr Ramsammy said at the beginning of the year, the Ministry recognised the need to buy fertiliser and introduce natural remedies for pests that destroy crops.
The Minister explained that these measures to introduce sustainable technology are taken to replace the unsustainable practices that are used locally, regionally and around the world.
He stated that there are many alternatives to chemical fertilisers and Guyana should not be shy to utilise them. Dr Ramsammy went on to talk about mechanisation in certain sectors of the agriculture sector, such as sugar, rice and cash crop.
On this note, the Minister acknowledged the work being done by the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) to use bio-fertilisers and micro-organisms to generate the micro-nutrients of those chemicals that are required for the healthy growth of crops. He noted that while the sugar industry has already adopted the mechanisation policy, the rice industry is almost fully-mechanised.
According to Dr Ramsammy, there are many chemical pesticides that are being used today that help to contribute to the success of the agriculture sector; however, he commended those agriculturists who engage in the use of alternatives methods.
The Minister further recognised the work being done by NAREI on this issue.
Meanwhile, the Agriculture Minister made reference to the Montreal Protocol and Stockholm Convention that Guyana signed on to years ago. These doctrines recognised that while fertilisers, chemicals and pesticides help in the long-term, they can also be harmful.
Dr Ramsammy emphasised the need for farmers to be informed about these doctrines and implement them into their everyday lives.
In addition, the Minister spoke about the fading importance of the use of antibiotics in both the agriculture and health sectors. He noted that many of the most critical antibiotics are in danger of becoming useless because the micro-organisms that they are being used against are becoming resistant to them.
“Antimicrobial resistant stands out today as a global treat to food and nutrition security and development as a whole,” he stated.
The Minister went on to point out that the livestock industry has experience great productivity as a result of the use of antibiotics.
He said in the health sector, there are at least 12 major antibiotics that are used to keep people alive and healthy, but today they are becoming useless in hospitals and health clinics since they have been abused in the health sector as well as the agriculture sector.
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