After seven-year preparation…
VARIOUS stakeholders, on Tuesday afternoon, gathered at the mined out
area dubbed ‘Kara Kara Mines Spoils,’ in Kara Kara, Mackenzie, Linden, for a sensitisation process.
That happened after a testing period of technical work done over seven years, between 2002 and 2009, to make the place fertile and ready for economic agricultural use.
Principal speakers on the occasion were Director of the National Agriculture Institute (NARI), Dr. Oudho Homenauth; Research Scientist at the Soils Division of the Ministry of Agriculture, Mr. David Fredericks and agronomist attached to Agriculture Department in Region 10 (Upper Demerara/Berbice), Ms. Tracey Alleyne.
Addressing the gathering, including school teachers, members of the Region Ten Farmers Association and other officials, Homenauth expressed his appreciation for the opportunity to develop the rugged terrain for a sustainable farming programme.
He said: “Actually, I am very happy we have reached this stage. It took some while and it does indicate that the process  does take time. We know that similar activities are taking place in other mined out areas in Guyana and this is one of the first attempts to do this kind of thing on a large scale. That is to get areas that have been mined out back into some kind of production and productivity.”
Homenauth said he was skeptical at first and, after visiting, he questioned what chances were there of going forward.
However, having done some work on stabilising the erosion and so forth, it is at the stage to now show or demonstrate what is feasible, he said.
Acknowledging problems in the past, Homenauth said there were difficulties along the way, in terms of management of the particular place. But he is very happy that the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) and regional officials are on board and he commended them.

GOOD TIME
He emphasised that there is very little that one can do during the El Nino but said it is a good time when a national programme is dealing with it.
Homenauth said some colleagues in Region 10 are involved and nobody is left out of the agricultural activities of the Ministry.
Fredericks said now is the time for them to move on and make the site economic and sustainable and show people in the community that all such mines spoils can be converted not only into agricultural projects but sustainable ones.
He said erosion is the biggest enemy there where coconuts and citrus were planted over the years but what is important is that the site survived two fires and the grass has grown back, showing the resilience of what was done.
Fredericks said citrus will be planted again, including by schoolchildren who will be encouraged from schools that are being urged to include the venture in their curriculum.
He said school based assessments can be done and students can learn farming practices there.
Fredericks disclosed that the Region Ten Farmers Association (RTFA) did a lot of training within the past two to three years and can start teaching agronomic practices for the benefit of people in Linden and its environs.
He said they also had students from St. Rose’s High School in Georgetown at the location as part of their SBAs.
Fredericks said they are certain of good productivity from cashew nuts at Kara Kara and 300 seedlings were planted last December, in anticipation of a factory to process the fruits.
Alleyne said, thanks to the schools which have been working with them and because they had some tools, the children can work on the farm with light machines like tillers which can be obtained from RTFA.