THE National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI) has embraced Region 10’s agricultural plans that are highlighted in the Plan of Action for Regional Development (PARD) and has already made a number of relevant contributions to the region. Even though the region’s five-year developmental plan encompasses development in its entirety, agricultural development is being prioritised. With this focus in mind, the Regional Democratic Council is collaborating with NARI to create improvement in the region’s agricultural sector. Regional Chairman Renis Morian told this publication that NARI has pledged to donate transportation to the region to assist farmers who are having difficulty transporting their produce to the market. The RDC has the responsibility of securing a driver for the bus.

SEED NURSERY
He also revealed that NARI has promised to support the region in planting and managing a nursery as they have already donated a large number of seeds.
In view of the PARD, the region is to identify 10 acres of land to be used for demonstration purposes so farmers will be taught techniques to enable maximum output in sandy soil. In an effort to encourage more agricultural activity in the region, the team attached to PARD which comprises the Regional Chairman, the Regional Vice Chairman, the regional economist and a member of the public will be giving seeds to farmers who will be monitored in terms of output and efforts are being made to have women join the agricultural sector.
Regional Chairman Morian acknowledged the importance of food security and with the decrease in bauxite production, agriculture should become the priority as it relates to diversification. This is being encouraged especially in the hinterland communities located up the Berbice River where agricultural activities were stymied after the previous administration sold the boat used by the farmers to transport their crops.
“We now have an uphill task to have agriculture done all over again in these communities because the previous administration sold the boat used by the farmers and now a lot of houses are closed because the people migrated from the community,” he said.
According to the Chairman of the Agricultural Committee, Douglas Gittens, the region is currently producing only 10% of what is consumed as the majority of its food is sourced from other regions.
This is seen as a dangerous situation as the food crisis that faced the region during the 2005 flood can occur again in the event of another natural disaster. “We do not want to produce food to compete with other regions but for our own livelihood,” posited the Regional Chairman.
Meanwhile, two pilot schools have already been identified to include agricultural programmes in the curriculum so that from a young age students will develop an appreciation for the sector.