Dear Editor,
Please allow me space in your column to help Gobind Harbhajan, MP, understand what “diversification” means and how it can help people – not only farmers.
Over the past few weeks, Harbhajan has been using his social media platform, particularly Facebook, to attack the Minister of Agriculture, Hon Zulfikar Mustapha MP, following the Minister’s call for farmers, especially those in the rice industry, to use a few acres of their lands to diversify into other crops so they can create alternative sources of income.
I believe the Minister made that recommendation not because he wants farmers to abandon rice cultivation, but because the world is currently facing serious economic challenges. With ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and rising global fuel prices, the cost of production and essential commodities continues to increase.
But perhaps Harbhajan does not fully understand the global economic situation, so I will not dwell too much on that. Unfortunately, all he seems interested in is creating confusion and spreading misinformation for attention among his small circle of followers – many of whom appear to be fake profiles.
Mr Harbhajan, diversification simply means spreading resources and investments across different areas so that if one business suffers losses, another can help sustain income.
The Minister never said farmers should stop planting rice. What he encouraged was that farmers should not depend solely on rice farming for survival. By planting crops such as peppers, tomatoes, cabbage, lettuce, or celery, or even engaging in livestock rearing, farmers can create additional streams of income to cushion themselves during difficult periods.
Ironically, Mr Harbhajan himself practises diversification. He claims to be a rice farmer, yet he does not depend only on rice farming for income. He has diversified into other ventures, including visa application services; politics, serving previously as a regional councillor; working with Government; and now serving as a Member of Parliament.
So why deny farmers the same opportunity to strengthen their financial stability?
Those additional crops are in demand daily and can provide farmers with regular income instead of waiting months for rice to be harvested and sold.
Diversification is not limited to agriculture. It applies across every sector. For example, if a businessman owns a lumber yard and notices sales declining because of new competition, he may decide to start selling nails and paint as well. That does not mean he is shutting down his lumber business; it simply means he is expanding his income opportunities.
Mr Harbhajan is also attempting to use this issue to falsely claim that the rice industry is collapsing and that the Minister’s recommendation is proof of failure. That is far from the truth.
The reality is that rising global fuel prices and increased costs for machinery, equipment, fertilisers, chemicals, and transportation have pushed up production costs worldwide. Sometimes farmers operate at a loss because of these international pressures.
The Government of Guyana cannot control global fuel prices or international market conditions caused by geopolitical conflicts and economic instability.
Therefore, Harbhajan needs to properly educate himself before misleading people on social media. He should also stop depending on others to write articles for him in the print media.