US Department of Agriculture help for agro-energy drive being pursued

United States of America Secretary (Minister) of Agriculture Ed Shaffer and Guyana’s Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud on Tuesday held discussions in Washington, DC, USA on possible new areas of cooperation in agriculture, particularly support for the development of an agro-energy/bio-fuels sector in Guyana.

The high-level meeting saw an exchange of views of areas of possible support from the US Department of Agriculture for Guyana’s agriculture drive, especially as it seeks to diversify and expand exports.

The discussions centred on technological and other support for an agro-energy sector and even the mobilization of private investment in the US for this new sector. The US is one of the world’s largest producers of ethanol and biodiesel.

Minister Persaud also raised issue of the restricted list of fresh agriculture produce from Guyana allowed through the Port of Miami, which is the main entry point for New York and other US markets. The US Secretary of Agriculture undertook to address this concern as if left unresolved could affect the export growth of agricultural produce to the US.

US Secretary of Agriculture Ed Shaffer and Guyana’s Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud exchange pleasantries before the start of their talks in Washington, DC, USA on Tuesday.

 

The age-old concern about highly subsidised rice from the US competing with Guyana’s rice on the world market, particularly CARICOM engaged the meeting. 

In an invited comment, the Guyanese Minister viewed the talk as “very positive” and that he was “optimistic that the undertaking given by the US Agriculture Secretary (Minister) would be followed-up early.”

This is one of the first such meetings to have taken place in recent times between a US Secretary of Agriculture and a Guyanese Minister of Agriculture.

Guyana’s Ambassador to the US Bayney Karran accompanied the Minister to the meeting.

Minister Persaud is in the US attending the Washington International Renewable Energy Conference organised by the US Department of Agriculture. He will be making a presentation on the role of forestry in renewable energy to the forum.

US President George Bush addressed the conference on Wednesday.

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