TOSHAO of Santa Rosa in the Moruca sub-region, Whanita Phillips, says that a coffee cultivation project being undertaken in the area will provide multiple benefits for farmers and the economy of the communities there.

According to a release from the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, the farmers are caring for approximately twelve thousand coffee seedlings on an effective rotation basis in a nursery which was established in the village.

Phillips lauded the government’s efforts saying, “this is big for us, this is awesome and something that I’m very excited about and I can see this project prospering. It will be massive I know that, and the farmers are very excited too.”

Several farmers noted the significance of the initiative which is now being realised. “This is something really good and a good start in helping us in getting something from agriculture, I’m happy about it, because I have my sons and they will help me look after this thing. We here never expected this would happen and it will come as a great help,” farmer Solomon Abrams noted.

Earl Rodrigues, who is a teacher and the youngest farmer cultivating the bean, related that the project is one of the better ones he has seen in the area. “I feel that as this project goes on, we the farmers will look forward to continued support from the ministry in whatever area. In the next five years, I would like to see this project double because farmers will have a better idea how to do it better,” he said.

A senior villager and a farmer, Roy Atkinson, noted the importance of coffee to the people of Moruca. “ Minister Lowe and Dr. Santiago had this vision for the people of Moruca which will benefit us well into the future. No other government has ever given us such a project and it is very interesting and even the youths are being drawn to agriculture,” he said.
According to Assistant Regional Executive Officer, Rennita Williams, the project can be deemed the revitalisation of the cultivation of coffee .She said many residents view the project as something beneficial to the area. “For me it’s a plus. Long now agriculture was down and now it’s back and on its way we could see clearly,” she said.

Minister Garrido-Lowe, who engaged farmers last Friday, told the farmers that they will be proud when the time for harvesting comes around.
“I am very proud of you the farmers, and I will also be proud when the coffee trees start bearing and you start producing and packaging ground coffee and of course supplying not only here, but the Caribbean, and that is what this will do. This right here is history for you,” she said.

Shortly, farmers will be caring for their own seedlings after collectively deciding on a way forward. The group also collectively decided on security arrangements at the facility which is critical at this stage in the life of the plants. Some fifteen farmers have been selected to execute the project.

Moruca’s fertile lands has long been known for its ability to produce coffee, however, this venture will ensure farmers receive triple dividends for their efforts, since approximately twelve thousand seedlings will be planted by fifteen farmers, reaped and processed to supply both the local, regional and later, international markets.

“The APNU+AFC government, I am proud to say, will continue to support ‘green’, sustainable, income-generating projects that will benefit the Indigenous and hinterland peoples,” Minister Garrido-Lowe said.

The Santa Rosa Ground Coffee project, as well as other projects that are being implemented by the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, is in keeping with Guyana’s ‘Green’ State Development Strategy.