THE Pakaraima Flavours Sun-Dried Tomato Project has provided farmers of Paramakatoi and neighbouring communities with the opportunity to increase their household income, whilst offering consumers locally produced tomato ketchup and salad dressing.

Eselinda Kaiser is one of the many farmers, who cultivate tomatoes for the project, which is being implemented by the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI), the Institute of Applied science and Technology (IAST), and the Ministries of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, and Social Protection.

The 49-year-old farmer has been with the project since its inception last year. It was the first time the veteran farmer planted tomatoes. Esetlina grew up in a home that depended on crops traditionally grown in the hinterland. In fact, up until this project was initiated the Kaisers planted primarily ground provisions.

She now dedicates a portion of her four-acre farm, situated at Bamboo Creek, to grow tomatoes. There are now 723 bearing tomato plants, which are being intercropped with cassava, eddoes, eschalot, plantains and bananas.

“At the time I heard about the tomato project I was really looking to earn more money for the family…So I grabbed the opportunity which I find very beneficial…It was the first time I was going to plant tomatoes…NAREI donated the seedlings and trained us how to grow the plants and care for the fruits,” Kaiser said.

In addition, to the readily available market for the produce, Kaiser is pleased with the project’s payment plan, which gives her the opportunity to earn a decent living. The farmer explained that she and other farmers receive an initial down payment for their produces. After a profit was generated from the sale of the products farmers enjoy a higher rate than the initial payment.

“I am committed and confident about the project. I am ready to put more land under cultivation with tomatoes. Of course, that would depend on me getting seedlings supplied at the right time…Right now NAREI is very helpful in getting seedlings to us,” she stated.