– NAREI working with farmers to implement climate-smart practices

THE National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) in collaboration with other agencies under the Ministry of Agriculture, recently concluded a Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Climate Change Adaptation of Good Practices” project benefitting several farmers in Regions Five and Six.

The communities to benefit are Lovely Lass, Now or Never, Number 4 and D’ Edward in Region Five and Fyrish, Region Six. The project was crafted to provide support to the larger “Building Resilience and Sustainable Livelihood: Mainstreaming Disaster Risk Management/Disaster Risk reduction into Guyana’s agriculture sector. It was implemented between November 2017 and September 2018 and was funded by an international organisation.

The overarching objective of the project was to increase the resilience of crop and livestock farmers to threats and crises, which may affect their lives and/ or livelihoods. For 11 months, NAREI, Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) and the Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA) executed a series of activities.

These activities focused on building capacities of extension services and extension staff to employ DRR tools, practices and approaches; and educate farmers and fisher folks about acclimate smart agriculture skills and DRR best practices and approaches.

Community mobilisation and public awareness about the project played an important part in the implementation of the project. To ensure full participation of the project community meetings were held. These meetings informed participants about the effects of climate change on livelihoods and to identify techniques which can be employed to reduce these effects. Furthermore, participants’ responses to surveys helped to establish the vulnerability profile for each community. This allowed DRR recommendations for each community.

HOW DID EACH COMMUNITY BENEFIT?
Lovely Lass: Four shade houses were constructed in this community at the residences of four members of the farmers’ group. Celery, lettuce, cabbage and pak choy seedlings were provided to the farmers. Additionally, 100 potting bags were distributed to other members of the farmers’ group.

Fyrish: A plant nursery was constructed in the compound of the Fyrish/Gibraltar Primary School. Tomato, lettuce, purple cabbage, celery, papaw and sour-sop seeds were provided to the farmers’ group to begin utilising the nursery. This was successfully done with support from NAREI’s Extension Officers in the region. Fertilisers were also distributed to the farmers’ group to ensure the viability of the crops sown.

This group was also able to participate in the recently concluded Regional Agricultural and Commercial Exhibition (R.A.C.E.) held in Region Six, where many residents and farmers were made aware of the new nursery. They were able to purchase seedlings that were grown in the nursery.

A vermicomposting bin was also set up adjacent to the nursery to provide organic compost for the sowing of seedlings. It is hoped that once sustained, both interventions will allow the Fyrish Farmers’ Group to have a ready supply of seedlings for replanting in the event of a natural disaster. The nursery also will serve as a source of income for the members of the group.

D’Edward-Seven active members of the farmers’ group in this community benefitted from the construction of seven shade houses; three women beneficiaries included. Seedlings were provided as was the case with the Lovely Lass community. Farmers in this community have expressed gratitude for the intervention and are willing to expand on the demonstration shown. They are confident that their shade houses will help to mitigate the effects of flooding and reduce incidences of pest and disease outbreaks on their farms.

Number 4-Three vermicomposting bins have been constructed in this community to provide compost for farmers. This intervention was selected particularly due to its potential to naturally replenish the soil and nourish the plants, thus reducing the need for synthetic fertilisers. One bin was fully supplied with worms. Additional worms will be made available for the remaining bins as the worm population increases.

This community has also benefitted from the construction of 20 trellises for growing cucumbers, bora and other vine crops. Crops were sown in potting bags beside the trellises to ensure mobility in the event of flooding. Additionally, two raised boxes were constructed at the residence of one female farmer.

Now or Never: There is an existing shade house in this community which is being used by the farmers’ group. To complement this shade house and to provide compost for the potting soil, two additional shade houses and two vermicomposting bins were constructed.

Further, two farmers benefitted from the establishment of plastic mulch and drip irrigation systems. This intervention will assist in mitigating the effects of drought which is routinely experienced in this community.

Residents in each community were encouraged to expand on the interventions made by NAREI and to share amongst themselves the resources provided to ensure that technologies and knowledge will be transferred.