Agriculture is central to any debate on climate change given the enormous responsibility placed on the sector to produce 60% more food by 2050 despite changing climatic uncertainties. The case for increased investment in climate-smart agriculture has been articulated in different forums as a way to promote agricultural transformation and chart a path to scale up climate actions in agriculture.
However, it is noted that the amount of climate finance going into the agricultural sector is very small compared with other sectors and, in contrast to what has been clearly identified in the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). Less than 5% of global climate finance is targeted to the agricultural sector and, even much less to smallholder farmers.
CTA has commissioned a national study to review NDCs and related policy frameworks in Guyana to identify assess the profile of agriculture and the engagement of agricultural stakeholders in the implementation of the NDCs, identify emerging opportunities and specific appropriate climate financing models for agriculture in the country. The national workshop is convened by the Office of Climate Change of the Ministry of the Presidency of Guyana in partnership with CTA. During the workshop, stakeholders will discuss and identify key options to promote climate finance for agriculture in general and CSA in particular in Guyana. Stakeholders expected at the meeting include officials from the ministries of Environment; Agriculture and Rural Development; Finance & Economic Planning. Others include representatives of farmers’ organisations, commercial banking sector, agro-allied businesses, NGOs, development organisations.