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FARMERS in the mining town of Mahdia are helping to reduce the cost of chicken and fresh farm produce, such as vegetables and ground provisions, through a variety of innovative approaches.
This was witnessed by Minister of Agriculture, Noel Holder, and his team during an outreach exercise to the area on Thursday, January 17, 2019.
The minister was accompanied by Heads of the Guyana Livestock Development Authority, (GLDA) Nigel Cumberbatch; National Drainage and Irrigation Authority, (NDIA) Freddy Flatts; the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute, (NAREI) Dr. Oudho Homenaught and the ministry’s Chief Fisheries Officer, Denzil Roberts.
The challenge faced by farmers in Guyana’s interior is usually the weather, which features an extended dry period.
The minister and team visited the farms of Roger Hinds, Lennox Nedd, Stuart (only name given) and poultry farmer Richard Owenkirk, where they were shown a variety of approaches to agriculture development.
At the farm of businessman/farmer Roger Hinds, it was noted that he (Hinds) incorporated the use of a Hydo-irrigation system and water storage in tanks, for use during the dry spells.
Hind’s acreage showcased an amazing variety of crops, including vegetables, spices, fruits and a huge section dedicated to citrus, all of which were in full production.
Other innovations revealed to the visiting team included greenhouses with vegetables such as pak choy, sweet peppers and lettuce, among others.
In his interaction with Minister Holder, Hinds assured that along with other farmers, he was committed to producing enough to make his Town self-sufficient in vegetables and poultry supplies.
“For as long as I can remember, the only source of fresh veggies and meat was from the coast and this was at a significant cost for transport through the trail or by aircraft. This cost was passed on to the residents of the community – I wanted to change that. I wanted to bring down the cost of food in Mahdia,” he told the team.
Hinds showed the visitors his poultry operation which had successfully reared the GLDA’s Black giant dual-purpose chickens to produce eggs. He explained that the Black Giant chickens had significantly impacted the cost of eggs in Mahdia.
“I get approximately 400 eggs a week from these chickens, and I sell them along with the other produce at the farm [and] at my supermarket. Previously a tray of eggs could be as much as $3000, I sell for $1500 including the tray,” he said.
Apart from this business, Hinds also operates the ‘Roger Hinds Hotel’, a supermarket complex and wholesale depot in the town.
The cost for poultry in the town has also been positively impacted by the efforts of farmer Richard Owenkirk, who said he saw a need in the Town and was the first to establish a poultry operation such as his.
“I would see how much a pound of chicken would cost us here in Mahdia, as much as $1200 at times. But I understood the challenges suppliers had in sourcing the meat in Georgetown then having it refrigerated for the long haul here. I felt I had a plan that could ease the hassle. Today, that plan is paying off for me and for the consumers of my town,” Owenkirk said.
He now sells his chickens at a wholesale price of $320 per pound to wholesalers who then retail for around $450 per pound.
Meanwhile, at the farm managed by Stuart, the minister and team were given an insight of his (Stuart’s) efforts in the production of papaya and citrus, as well as exotic fruits such as soursop and sugar apples.
Minister Holder committed to working with the Region Eight’s Regional Democratic Council, along with the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission, with a view of having the farmers access lands to facilitate the continued growth of agriculture in the region.
