FARMERS of Mainstay/Whyaka Amerindian community want to start organic cultivation of heart of palm, to keep the pineapple factory rolling during the out of crop season.
The Toshoa, Mr. Joel Fredericks told Minister within the Ministry of Agriculture, Mr. Alli Baksh, at a meeting last week, that the venture will have them actively involved and provide employment when pineapple is out of season.
According to Fredericks, the alternative fruit is easy to grow and requires less attention than pineapples. He said the community is looking to cultivate an experimental one acre before moving into larger spread that can be found growing abundantly in the interior, especially near rivers and creeks.
Minister Baksh said he is fully supportive of the idea and said value-added products must be looked at seriously.
He said the National Agricultural Research & Extension Institute (NAREI) and New Guyana Marketing Corporation (NGMC) will continue to work with Mainstay/Whyaka farmers to push agriculture development and add value to products.