Guyana exploring local cultivation of wheat
The surge in wheat and other commodity prices results from the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, accounting for about 30 per cent of the world’s traded wheat.
President Ali lamented that the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine conflict have led to supply chain disruption, which has significant economic implications.
The pandemic, in some instances, resulted in the cost of goods and services increased by 20 to 145 per cent, while the cost of shipping and logistics has gone up by as much as 200 per cent.
The war in Ukraine has taken out close to 40 per cent of global wheat production, and the oil price has surged.
Notwithstanding these challenges, President Ali said the government is unwavering in its quest to build a resilient Guyana.
“We have started to present leadership on our next big crisis, food security…. The world has taught us that we can no longer be dependent. We have to be as self-sufficient and self-sustainable as possible, especially when it comes to the supply of food and basic commodities,” he noted.
He said citizens must understand the complexities of the environment under which the government was operating and pointed out that even amid the challenges, the government has been able to keep all public servants employed, expand employment opportunities, provide increases in salaries and pension, and provide incentives for more students.
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