THE Agricultural Development Plan for Region Eight (Potaro/Siparuni) will be rolled out shortly and will include the recommendations made by the villages following a recent visit by Minister Noel Holder.

While many persons in the region are mainly involved in mining activities, the southern sub-region consists of many Amerindian Villages known for their agricultural productivity amidst the challenges of its location. The ministry said that in order to ensure that a more networked approach is adopted to boost agricultural production and productivity, the minister decided to visit the region.

He was accompanied by Permanent Secretary, Delma Nedd and other senior government officials and the team visited the villages of Kamana, Kurukabaru, Kanapang, Itabac, Kato, Tuseneng, Paramakatoi, Bamboo Creek, and Monkey Mountain, between April 11 to 15. The team also visited the villages of Rukumuta, Karasabai, Tiperu and Yurong Paru in Region 9.

According to a release from the Ministry of Agriculture, crop suitability was identified as a major issue which has to be addressed if the region is to effectively tap into its potential. It noted that this will be incorporated into the developmental program.

“The Ministry of Agriculture is committed to addressing whatever shortfalls you may have by giving the necessary technical support so that you can tap into your true potential as a village….the development plan which will be implemented seeks to ensure that you expand not only your traditional commodities, but looking into non-traditional,” the Minister said.

According to the release, the issue of subsistence farmers was also addressed as the Agriculture Minister spoke of the potential of the region in becoming a major exporter to the coast and beyond. He said that while cattle rearing and cassava production is the main income generating product of the region at the moment, the developmental plan will cater for additional crops and livestock. At Kamana, Toshao Jeffery Edwards and councillors met with the team at the community centre and issues such as cassava rot due to flooding the region experienced a few months ago, were discussed. A request for a cassava machine for the Community Women Project was also discussed.

The ministry noted that the Guyana Livestock Development Authority’s Black Giant Poultry programme will now be extended to Region Eight. Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the GLDA, Dr. Dwight Waldron spoke of the potential of the programme, which has recorded birds gaining 8-9 pounds over a 3-6 months period and the egg production of over 230,000 eggs annually. The birds, according to Dr. Waldron, do not require the purchase of imported feed, as they consume kitchen waste and grass.

“This will ensure that you do not spend additional money and will generate financing for your village as the meat can be sold to the school as part of its School Feeding Programme,” Nedd said.
The residents were encouraged to work along with the extension officers of the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) in embarking on new crop production. The ministry said similar issues were raised at Kurukabaru where residents requested assistance with aquaculture production.

According to village councillor of Kurukabaru, Grandville Lewis, the village is looking into fish rearing and as such requested technical support from the fisheries department. The aim is to not only sell the fish to the village but, with the addition of other critical services, to supply other villages and even extra regionally.

The ministry noted that NAREI has been running a successful ants program in the region which has since seen the reduction of the prevalence of acoushi ants on farms. According to the residents, while this has been of great assistance, they are now affected by white flies and caterpillars. Chief Executive Officer of NAREI, Dr. Oudho Homenauth presented acoushi ant bait and chemicals to the residents to treat the white flies and caterpillars. He spoke of the upcoming projects of the Institute which will be rolled out during the Ministry’s Agricultural Development Plan.

“This will see our extension officers working with you to incorporate new crops, and to ensure that pest and diseases do not adversely affect your production. Our team is here to work with you on a day-to-day basis and I urge you to ensure that you are actively involved in ensuring that it is done and in a timely manner,” he told the gathering.
Sustainable development plans will be employed in other hinterland regions according to the Agriculture Minister, who stated that the visit has enabled the team to have a better understanding of the concerns affecting the residents and to ensure that the issues raised were addressed.

“The developmental Program will provide sufficient resources so that you can transform your village. With the discovery of oil and the thrust of the Ministry of Agriculture in moving our production base to the hinterland, the timing is right for investments in agriculture and for you to adopt new and innovative projects,” the Minister said.

The team also visited the villages of Kanapang, Itabac, Kato and Tuseneng to meet with residents. At the village, huge yams, cassava and bananas produced by the village were on display. Residents said the availability of markets is one of the greatest concerns of residents.

Guyana Marketing Corporation’s Corp Extension Officer assigned to the hinterland, Jo-Lee Walton, informed the residents of efforts made by the GMC through the facilitation of produce to markets.

She added that while the GMC prefers not to purchase produce from individual buyers, they can offer this facility once the farmers formed themselves into groups/clusters. According to Walton, it takes dedication, partnership and individual effort to ensure success and has committed to working with the villages to ensure that market-related issues are addressed.
The additional concerns and recommendations which were raised by residents would be incorporated into the Region’s development programme.

As regards drainage and irrigation, it was noted that with the addition of new crops, water management will be crucial and the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) has been mandated to complete a study of the region which will include the availability of water catchment areas to supply farmers’ irrigation requirements during dry periods. According to the Agriculture Minister, the management of the system needed to be improved to give farmers the much-needed support.