by Tajeram Mohabir

THE Intermediate Savannahs are set to become the new agriculture frontier as Guyana moves to narrow the gap between the coastland and hinterland regions. Guyana’s agriculture is primarily concentrated on the coast, even though the potential for agricultural development in the hinterland regions is known.

The Intermediate Savannahs have long been considered as the next frontier for the nation’s agricultural development.
Agriculture Minister Noel Holder in his budget presentation told the House that in keeping with the Year of the Renaissance, the Ministry of Agriculture has been working assiduously for the revitalisation of agriculture in the hinterland.
“The Ministry of Agriculture has aligned its work programme to realise the Intermediate Savannahs as the next agricultural centre and has also prioritised the implementation of policies for development of the Rupununi Savannahs,” he said.
This year will see the establishment and in some instances re-establishment of agricultural stations in each of the main eco-zones of Guyana.
According to Mr Holder, this is being done to nurture integration between the coast and hinterland and to increase access to the bountiful resources of the hinterland.
At Wauna, North West District, Region One, a Quarantine Agriculture Station will be built; at Kato, Region 8, the facilities there and agriculture station will be rehabilitated; at Manari, Rupununi Savannahs, Region 9, an agriculture station will be built; while another will be built at Ebini, the Intermediate Savannahs, Region 10.
“These agricultural stations will demonstrate the agricultural potential of these areas, including demonstration orchards, nurseries and seed production units for the production of planting material relevant to each eco zone, breeding herds of cattle and small ruminants to provide breeding stock for farmers and seed stock for entrepreneurs. These stations will have multiple functions such as research areas, housing, and office space, mechanical and other workshops, recreational facilities and teaching facilities,” the minister said.
During 2015, work had begun on updating the various studies on the Agricultural Development of the Intermediate Savannahs.
And according to Mr Holder, large scale agriculture in the savannahs will commence in 2016 with the production of Soybeans by the Brazilian company New Frontier Agriculture Inc in the Kimbia/Ebini savannahs.
“While a feasibility study for the Agricultural Development of the Rupununi Savannahs does exist, this will be updated and expanded during 2016 with a view to the logical expansion in that area along the lines of the Santa Fe model which is in the process of development in the North Rupununi savannahs.
“These initiatives will create new employment opportunities, both directly, and more so, indirectly as the country’s economic base is moved inland and will complement other activities such as mining, forestry and support service activities thereto appertaining,” Holder told the House.