-as El Nino conditions prevail
As part of the Ministry of Agriculture’s effort to manage the current El Nino conditions, a high-level team of officials visited Region One to further assess and distribute planting materials and provide other forms of support to farmers of Mabaruma Sub Region. The team, headed by George Jervis, Deputy Permanent Secretary, included Nizam Hassan, General Manager at the New Guyana Marketing Corporation, and other technical staff of the Ministry.

Agriculture officials attend to Mabaruma residents’ agriculture needs.

They visited communities that were affected during earlier needs assessments. During the outreache, Mr. Jervis communicated the Ministry’s willingness to assist in expanding agriculture in the region, while an assessment of the acoushi ant control programme was undertaken. The team held meetings at Maburuma, Hotoquai, Hobadai and Morawhanna, where cassava sticks and pineapple slips worth $1.2M were distributed.

Farmers were urged by the Ministry’s Deputy Permanent Secretary to ensure that the planting materials are properly utilized. It was also highlighted that the planting materials distributed are of a high standard. In response to requests by farmers for citrus plants, interested persons were invited to attend a series of

Cassava sticks that were handed over to Region One residents.

training programmes aimed at providing training in plant propagation methods that would commence in Hosororo during the third week of next month. Additional support in the form of chemicals was also presented to various communities as part of the Ministry’s Acoushi ant control programme.

Farming communities of Region Eight also benefitted from additional support, while a technical assessment was conducted to determine additional agricultural needs of the farming communities of Paramakatoi, Tuseneng and Monkey Mountain.

Emphasis was laid on the efficiency of the Ministry’s Veterinary and Extension Service provided to farmers, while feedback was provided to farmers. Meanwhile, closer interactions will continue to ensure hinterland communities boost their farming activities despite the current El Nino conditions. (GINA)