FARMERS in Linden are responding positively to the announcement by the Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice) Regional Democratic Council (RDC), to make agriculture a programme head, which for the first time will see it being budgeted for in 2019. The RDC made this decision after being allocated a 2019 budgetary allocation of $3.9 B, a huge increase over $500M compared to the 2018 allocation.

Regional Chairman Renis Morian highlighted that this is necessary for the provision of funding for agricultural projects throughout Region 10, since the region is gearing towards diversification in the various sectors.

On Wednesday, this publication sought comments from various farmers in Linden who all welcomed the move and have expressed excitement over what is in store for the resuscitation of agriculture.

Founding President of the Linden Farmer’s Association Godfrey Edwards, who is also a farmer, noted on behalf of the farmers of the association that farmers are very excited about the move. He said that in the recent past, Linden farmers were on the verge of diversification by not only focusing on traditional farming, but also by incorporating livestock rearing and more noticeably, value-added production. Now that they will be receiving financial and technical assistance from the RDC, he is optimistic that the projects will shoot off. “We were looking at a shift of movement, we were looking to commence the production of ham, sausage and bacon and to move away from traditional farming,” he said. He commended the regional officials for realising potential in the farmers and putting systems in place for them to get the assistance they need; this will stimulate the process further than they would have initiated “There is a big movement going on in the region, and they [the officials] have realised that the farmers in the community are trying their bit and so they (the officials) didn’t want to be left behind,” he further added. He also commended the farmers for sticking together when there was little or no assistance and for pushing forward, thus reaching this far.

In addition to diversification, he said that the farmers have commenced an aggressive sensitisation of subsistence farming and backyard farming within the communities, so everyone can become a farmer in their own way. The Community Development Councils (CDC) have played a great role in this regard. “We are encouraging people to utilise the small spaces that they have……..let us try to collaborate with each other because the chain is strong as the weakest link.” He said. Edwards also noted that farmers will welcome whatever financial assistance they can receive from the RDC, since most financial lending institutions are not ‘farmer friendly’ because the lands used are not titled but leased; and some are squatted land. He is calling on farmers to look at farming as a business and to prioritize on one or two crops, since focusing on several will heighten challenges of producing them.

West Watooka farmer Ivan Sancho said that he feels good about the move made by the RDC to incorporate agriculture as a programme head, because it is time farmers get the support they deserve from their officials. Linden farmers are experiencing a plethora of problems, ranging from limited drainage and irrigation, access roads, limited marketing, etc.

Highlighting his personal problems, Sancho said that he has two acres of land in West Watooka which he used to plant cash crops, ground provision and fruits. He is calling on the officials to utilise some of the budgetary funding for the construction of access roads in West Watooka and the creation of better drainage and irrigation. “I does have to pay about $40, 000 a month on water because where I am situated, is like in the middle of a jungle and there is no front road, so if a drought happen, I am in the sauce, so that is my biggest problem,” he said.

Block 22 farmer Owen DeSouza also commended the RDC for this great move as it will enhance the livelihoods of farmers and will assists them in the struggle for betterment. “There are a lot of farmers that have vision but no finance; and I really do look forward for the 2019 agricultural agenda, since it will encourage farmers as well,” he said. DeSouza stressed that farming can create hundreds of jobs in Linden, since it provides same from the nursery to the factory and therefore should be taken seriously. He believes that our market place is saturated with foreign goods as well as farming produce from out of Region 10 and is definitely looking forward for this to change in 2019.

Amelia’s Ward farmer Godfrey James noted that he believes a lot of emphasis is given to farmers in West Watooka, Block 22 and Christianburg and not much attention is given to those in his community. He believes that all farmers should be given the same attention by the RDC when providing whatever form of assistance in 2019. “My issue is that nobody really pay much attention to the farmers in the “Ward,” we are basically alone. I don’t know if is because is not much of us or what, but it breaks my heart and I hope that in 2019 this is changed with whatever assistance they giving, because right now all the emphasis is over that side, none is really on us,” he said.

Regional Chairman Morian explained that the RDC is aiming to strengthen the region’s food security base and to limit its dependency on other regions for agricultural produce. The RDC is cognisant of Region 10’s high dependency on agricultural produce from other regions and there is fear of the recurrence of food shortage, which occurred in 2005 from the coastal flood. It was described as a regional disaster where food was a scarce commodity. He said that programmes to raise awareness on the importance of agriculture will be initiated and technical and material support in the form of training, seeds, tools, etc will also be given to all those who take up the mandate to farm.

The RDC has been motivated by the many farmers and even residents who came forward and have shown interest in agriculture and have even started their own subsistence farming in their backyards.

One of the strategies the RDC will be embarking on is to establish a farmers’ market adjacent to the Wismar Municipal Market on Burnham Drive, on weekends, as a start to gaining the residents’ confidence. A “trial” exhibition was done in October and was well received. “If we can get a steady flow of food every weekend, that will help to build the residents’ confidence, that they could look internally for that food supply.” Morian is calling for all stakeholders and local leaders to come on board to holistically push agricultural production in Region 10.