THE Ministry of Agriculture has been working consistently to ensure farmers remain engrossed in cultivating the land, as this ensures livelihoods are sustained and food security is maintained. It is against this background that the ministry held an outreach in Region Eight yesterday. Minister of Agriculture Mr. Robert Persaud, along with the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) Presidential Candidate and Presidential Advisor Mr. Donald Ramotar, held two meetings in Paramakatoi and Kato.

Minister Persaud told residents that the outreach was in keeping with government’s commitment of serving the needs of all Guyanese, irrespective of how remote or how far they are from the coast.
The agriculture outreaches are also indicative of Government’s dedication to interacting with the people, in order to find ways of improving their livelihoods.

Minister Persaud told the residents that for the hinterland communities, given the remoteness and the logistics involved, it is essential to develop sustainable food production systems within the communities as this will aid in removing the financial burden of having to transport food supply from Georgetown.

With the road links being established in the region allowing for produce, especially non-perishables to gain access to the Georgetown market, the government felt it was important to gear the farmers toward the long-term goal of the region contributing to the goal of national export, he said.

The ministry, he said, is looking at ways in which to develop these systems and to make them sustainable. Hence its officers have been interacting and training farmers in the communities in correct farming practices. In both Paramakatoi and Kato, agriculture officers are stationed.

Focus has also been placed on changing the agriculture scope of the communities, to the extent that it goes beyond just production for personal consumption to accommodate domestic export.

In addition to dealing with the constraints affecting the production of the traditional crops, the ministry has also introduced some new crops to the communities, particularly spices.

Presidential candidate Mr.  Ramotar also emphasised the importance of establishing and ensuring food security and alluded to the turmoil in many countries in the Middle
East because of unstable food security and rising prices.

He told the Kato and Paramakatoi residents that Government’s interest in the region reflects its
sensitivity to the region.

Government recognises that the most important factor for development is people and, as such, has been working effortlessly to develop this aspect.
Ramotar reminded the residents of the many government efforts towards building and making better the lives of its people.

He illustrated how effective and important human resources are to a country’s development by highlighting the economic riches of Congo compared to Japan.

He told the residents that Congo, rich in natural resources, falls short of the development of Japan which is not remotely close to being blessed with the same resources. However, Japan had taken the time to develop its human resource, he said.
Ramotar also reminded the residents of the Guyana Elections Commission’s two weeks extension for the registration of those who would have failed to register because of not having a source document.

He implored those who would not have registered to do so within this period, reminding them that voting is the only opportunity to determine who will lead them.

Minister Persaud and Ramotar also addressed many of the concerns raised by residents of the two communities.

The Ministry of Agriculture, since initialising the regular interface between the communities, has made several interventions that have advance agriculture in the communities.

These include the provision of training and equipment to manage pests and to access free service from a vet.

Several persons from the communities have also benefitted from apiculture training in hive construction and capturing of wild bees for the purpose of rearing.
The ministry plans to implement, soon, the ants bait control programme in Region Eight to manage the community’s acoushi ant problem. The programme has been introduced in Region Seven.

Very soon the ministry will have a Cuban trained agronomist operating out of Kato and that person will assist the farmers in both communities.

The farmers, yesterday, were supplied with planting materials as well as veterinary supplies for the animals and farming implements including spray cans. (GINA)