By Delicia Janneire
Guyana, alongside seven other Caribbean countries, is set to benefit from a new Gender Responsive Climate Smart Agriculture and Food Systems project.
Funded by the Canadian government, this initiative will be implemented by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) with a focus on enhancing climate-smart technologies and promoting sustainable agro-food systems.
The project was introduced during an inception workshop held today at the Regency Hotel.
Natasha Deonarine, Head of the Agriculture Ministry’s Planning Department, welcomed the initiative and highlighted that the fisheries and aquaculture sectors will be the primary beneficiaries.
This effort builds upon previous work with FAO to advance sustainable practices in these industries.
Adam Loyer, Deputy Director of Canada Cooperation at the High Commission, explained that the $19 million Canadian project is designed to bolster economic participation and prosperity in agri-business markets, with a particular emphasis on including women and youth.
The project aims to support the region’s goal of reducing its food import bill by 25 percent by 2025 and to close the gender gap in agriculture, aligning with global sustainable development goals and the Caribbean’s 25 by 2025 initiative.
The workshop marked the beginning of a series of engagements involving members of the Agriculture Ministry’s Technical Team, NAREI, GSA, GNBS, CARICOM, and CARDI, among others.
It covered the project’s delivery mechanisms, the formation of a national steering committee, and an overview of the environmental and risk management framework.