Guyana lauded for successful measures against regional food insecurity

According to the Regional Overview of Food Security and Nutrition – Latin America and the Caribbean 2022, recently released by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations and affiliate agencies, Guyana’s response to the regional food crisis remains economically progressive. The report indicated that Guyana's agriculture sector grew to 12 per cent, and has protected vulnerable families and small farmers and fishers and artisan workers from hunger. Among measures Guyana has taken to shield against the food crisis are targeted maintenance and increased production in farming, as well as the facilitation of market connections. Food and transfer support, whether cash or kind proved to be a sustainable measure on a community level. This is part and parcel of Guyana’s central focus in agri-development, whereby the nation aims to contribute as far as possible to CARICOM’s goal in reducing the regional food import bill by 25 per cent by 2025. At the UN Food Systems Summit, Guyana acknowledged that its success is attributed to the commitment and arrangements of its partners within the Caribbean Community. In addition, FAO will continue to advocate for building resilience of fisherfolk’s businesses in risks posed to aquafarming, facilitating climate-smart solutions, and implement policies that promote healthy diets and open new and inclusive agriculture and food systems opportunities. This may see 131 million people as beneficiaries in Latin America, and the Caribbean.