KEY government ministries and a number of support agencies have pledged their continued support towards ensuring that poverty is alleviated in Region Six among single-mothers and other vulnerable groups.

On Thursday, two agricultural programmes were launched to help women and youth to get out of poverty through sustainable agricultural practices. The programmes will also help institutions save money by producing their own food. The two programmes focus on agriculture green/shade-house farming and inland fishing or aquaculture.

Speaking at the launch of the programmes, Country Representative, Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), Rueben Robertson, said the development is a step towards poverty alleviation in Region Six. “It is the first step of moving the beneficiaries out of poverty,” Robertson noted. Minister of Social Protection, Amna Ally, endorsed the view that the project will help the beneficiaries get out of poverty. She recalled that the projects started in 2016 under the previous minister of Social Protection.

“Prior to 2015, many of our young people, many women, and many organised entities were not given the opportunity to empower themselves. Many existed in a conundrum of poverty; some endured stress to give their families a good life,” the minister noted.

The Ministry of Social Protection has committed to the overall development and empowerment of the beneficiaries by contributing $5M to the programme. Ten shade-houses have been constructed for single-mothers, inmates of the New Amsterdam Female Prison, The GuySuCo Training Centre, the Felix Austin Police Training College and the Agriculture Science programme at the Lower Corentyne Secondary School, to help in the Agriculture Science curriculum. The single-mothers and other families benefitting from shade-houses were drawn from a number of villages, including Limlair, Kildonan and Fyrish, Corentyne, East Berbice.

The programme is being spearheaded by the St. Francis Community Developers group in Rose Hall, Corentyne. The Non-Governmental Organisation has been working to create independent communities, while promoting diversified, people-friendly activities that would guarantee residents a better life. Alex Foster, representing the NGO, noted that the programme was delayed for some time, but was finally being realised. He expressed confidence that the beneficiaries will capitalise on the commitment of government and other concerned agencies.

Technical support for the programmes will come from officers of the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA), National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) and the Fisheries Department of the Ministry of Agriculture.

A representative of the Felix Austin Police Training College said that produce grown under the shade-house will be consumed by trainees of the police programme, which will eventually save money on their food bill. The aquaculture pond in the compound of the St. Francis Community Developers group, will serve as a hatchery for approximately 10,000 tilapia fingerlings every eight weeks.

Other Support agencies include the Food for the Poor Inc. and the Regional Democratic Council of Region Six.

(GINA)