Lindeners turned out in their numbers on Saturday evening to view the exhibits and purchase much needed agricultural produce at the Linden leg of the Ministry of Agriculture’s Grow More Food Festival at the Linden/Georgetown Bus Park.Farmers’ booths displayed and sold myriad items- both planting materials and farming equipment, and offered vital information on good farming practices.Residents were also afforded the opportunity of learning about our natural sea defense- the mangrove trees via videos etc.Produce being displayed at the Linden ‘Grow More Food’ festival.On hand to witness the event were Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud, who gave the feature address, Minister of Works and Hydraulics Robeson Benn and Minister of Health Dr. Leslie Ramsammy.Several farmers from across Region 10 participated in the festival, which provided shoppers with a wide variety of agricultural produce that sold like hot cakes.Later in the evening, residents were treated to entertainment by Shelly “G” before Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud gave his feature address.Persaud urged Lindeners to reflect on the millions of people who are on the brink of starvation and even death, in places like Kenya and Somalia in the heart of Africa, and to consider how they treat the agricultural sector,Ander Herrera Jersey, and how they should get involved in food production.He noted that the Food and Agriculture Organization found that Guyana, along with another country within this hemisphere,Cheap Manchester United Jersey, was able to cut hunger in half last year- adding that that was a ‘proud’ achievement.He however said that the nation cannot become complacent- thus the decision to restart the Grow More Food festivals, as a way to remind people how important it is to stay in agriculture and to get involved in food production.Persaud alluded to the fact that all across the world, food prices are going up, and Guyana does not have enough food to export.He pointed out that in recent times there has also been increases in prices locally,Arjen Robben Jersey, “so much so that we are looking at ways in which we can have more than we need locally available, and doing some form of restricting export of food.”He noted that there are tremendous opportunities in the Agricultural Sector,Juventus Jerseys, and as such he exhorted persons engaged in farming all across Region 10 to become involved in the ‘growing opportunities’ in food production.‘We do not want you to be left behind in the agriculture transformation,Manchester United Jerseys, and that is why as a government, you will see us continuing to invest more. This year alone we will be spending close to G$153M in drainage and irrigation.” He then pointed out that just a few days ago, approximately G$22M was approved for the people of Region 10.“We know that Linden or Region 10 has had its good times and bad times, and we want to assure you that we will not only be with you in good times, but we will stick around and work with you, to ensure that during the bad times, we’re able to overcome those difficulties. I want all of us to look to the future, with some level of confidence and some level of optimism, and be assured that not only the Ministry of Agriculture but the entire PPPC government will continue to support the people of Region 10 as we are supporting the people all across Guyana,Custom Manchester United Jerseys, not only in improving their lives but more particularly in lifting the Agricultural Sector and ensuring at the end of the day, all Guyanese as a result of the “Grow More Food Campaign’ can have access to affordable food, and help feed people in the Caribbean, as we’re doing now in North America.Persaud also posited that in the near future Guyana can even join the global effort to combat famine and starvation in Africa and other parts of the world.He said that the Agricultural Sector has much promise and hope, and urged all to become involved.Minister Robeson Benn, in his brief remarks said that Linden is a net food importer while noting that the Grow More Food festival is very important for the community.He said that the responsibility of his Ministry is to keep all the roads open and infrastructure in good order to facilitate shipment of goods into and out of the community.