President Irfaan Ali has introduced a new project proposal to CARICOM focusing on food security in the region.
The proposal was put before CARICOM Heads of Government at their recent meeting and received full support, according to CARICOM.
The President has also pledged US$2 million to advance the new project in the region. The Project will be further financed through the US$100M line of credit under the CARICOM Sustainability Agriculture Credit Facility, which uses Republic Bank Limited as a lender and the US$28 million in financing that United States government has pledged to Caribbean countries last year.
Guyana holds responsibility for Agriculture within the CARICOM Quasi-Cabinet and President Ali has been praised for his work in advancing food security the region.
“Heads of Government supported the project proposal entitled “Building Food Security through aInnovation, Resilience, Sustainability and Empowerment”, as presented by President Ali, and accepted the pledge of US$2M from Guyana towards financing and implementing this project. They commended the Lead Head of Government with responsibility for Agriculture and Agriculture Development in the Quasi-Cabinet, His Excellency Mohammed Irfaan Ali, President of Guyana, for his leadership on the Agri-food systems agenda,” CARICOM said.
The Plan introduced by President Ali includes the expansion of hydroponics, and the use of other technology to grow plants without the use of soil.
Heads of Government have also requested the CARICOM Secretariat to accelerate its efforts in the mobilization of resources towards the achievement of the 25 by 2025 initiative.
25 by 2025 is the regional pledge by CARICOM Heads to increase food security by reducing the regional food import bill by at least 25 percent by 2025.
CARICOM’s food import bill is currently pegged at a staggering US$5B.
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