AS part of Government’s quest to diversify its agricultural production, Agriculture Minister, Mr Noel Holder back in August spearheaded an outreach exercise to the islands of Leguan and Wakenaam in Region Three.He was accompanied on the trip by Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Mr George Jervis; Head of the Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA), Mr Nigel

Cumberbatch; General Manager of the Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC), Ms. Ida Sealey-Adams; Chairman of the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) Board, Mr John Piggott; Head of the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI), Dr. Oudho Homenauth; Mr Gary Baird of the Legal and Inspection Unit of the Fisheries Department; and NDIA Senior Engineer, Mr Rudolph Persaud.
The exercise forms part of the Ministry of Agriculture’s mandate to better serve its farmers by adequately addressing some of the ills affecting their mode of production, and by promoting the cultivation and production of non-traditional crops.
Guyana’s effort to expand and diversify the agriculture sector is a policy direction that has gained the attention and support of the government.
“The government’s thrust for development in the agricultural sector over the next five years is hinged on the drive to diversify and expand production in non-traditional activities,” Minister Holder said, adding:
“Our focus is centered not only on improving the drainage system and rationalising production on the coast, but also in developing these new areas of activity.”
The subject Minister was at the time addressing scores of rice, cattle, coconut and cash-crop farmers in Leguan where he again called for not only togetherness, but for farmers to work collectively to push for the sector to further advance.
“This pursuit by the government to modernise the agricultural diversification thrust in our country has already begun to produce favourable results,” the Minister said.

THRIVING BUSINESS
Dabie Singh, who runs a thriving farm on Leguan, took the minister and his entourage on a tour of his homestead where he is currently minding ducks, turkeys, sheep and hassar.
“We are running a successful model farm here; people sometimes hear about Leguan and think that we are small disorganised farmers, but, indeed, we have come a far way and we intend to continue to boost our production with the help of the Guyana Livestock Development Authority,” Dabie said.

GLDA extension officers have been working tirelessly to ensure that farmers receive the necessary technical advice, so they can engage in proper animal husbandry.
The farmer, in order to further diversify his business, recently joined NAREI in its quest for large-scale coconut production.  Coconut water and copra are at present in high demand on the export market, and farmers are now positioning themselves to tap into this lucrative industry.
The Ministry of Agriculture has maintained its commitment to ensuring that export continues to thrive, and as such stakeholders in the agricultural sector continue to receive assistance from the administration to boost their efforts to diversify the sector by exploring new and modern technology.

MODERN HATCHERY
At Wakenaam, Mr. and Mrs. Amos Gordon, retirees, currently run a modern duck hatchery, which supplies the island as well as the coast with duck meat and eggs.
“We started very small and, as you can see, we have expanded where we supply the coast also…. Anyone can benefit from such means of production; you just have to want to succeed,” Mrs. Gordon said.
GLDA’s Mr Cumberbatch has committed to having an Artificial Insemination programme implemented on the island.
The farmers lauded the move by the ministry in ensuring they can safeguard their livelihood by expanding the dairy industry.

A team from GLDA is scheduled to commence work with farmers and other key stakeholders shortly to look at ways in which the government can boost the cattle industry in the islands.
“We have huge potential on this island; we just have to tap into it. Working together, we can further develop the cattle industry,” Cumberbatch said.
The government has recognised the potential for other crops, livestock and aquaculture in the development of the country, and as such has been channelling a substantial amount of resources to provide the necessary infrastructural, technical assistance and training to equip farmers with the necessary skills to explore, and venture into,  new opportunities in the agricultural sector.