FARMERS Tom Misir and Jasmattie Lakhan of Aurora Village on the Essequibo Coast have set up a plant nursery and are aiming to make Region 2 self-sufficient in the production of vegetables and also to export the excess to other administrative regions and overseas.

According to Mr. Misir, the focus is to encourage Essequibians, especially households, to embark on gardening. He said his nursery currently has some 17,000 celery seedlings in stock which are blooming and ready for planting. The farmer, who is a retired secondary school teacher and does farming on a large scale said he also cultivates green stem pak choi, red cabbage and lettuce. Mr. Misir said he supplies the Imam Bacchus Supermarket at Affiance with fresh lettuce from his farm.
The farmer is encouraging residents, especially housewives, to plant kitchen gardens so as to become self-sufficient in the production of vegetables for their families. Misir said he has sold 3,000 celery seedlings already to Essequibians from a stock of 20,000 plants at his nursery.

(Rajendra Prabhulall)