A GROUP of about 30 rural farmers from Parika Backdam, Region Three ( West Demerara- Essequibo Islands ) have benefitted from training in the construction and capacity-building for shade houses.

The exercise which began in February 18, 2020 and concluded earlier this month, exposed the group to the knowledge and practical experience pertainin to shade house construction, characteristics of soil types and best-result practices and crop management.

The participants also benefitted from expert recommendations on the dos and don’ts from other farmers who have already employed the shade house technique.

Training of farmers in that aspect is part of the US$17, 000 Inter American Institute for Cooperation and Food and Agriculture Organisation (IICA/FAO)- sponsored project in Guyana and supervised by Wilbert Dudley Garnett. The project also served as a demonstration for other farmers and communities to allow them to build resilience, competitiveness and rural wealth.

The priorities of the Ministry of Agriculture are to improve food security, build climate resilience in rural communities and family agriculture.

Agricultural authorities of the Caribbean at a recent meeting acknowledged that having multiple funding alternatives is crucial to meet the challenges facing the Region’s agriculture, such as fostering trade; driving regional integration; expanding market access; improving the transportation of products; boosting the resilience of production systems to climate change; investing in innovation and technology transfer; building capacities; implementing sanitary measures and linking youth to farming activities.

Minister of Agriculture Noel Holder had told the forum that after COVID-19, funding for recovery processes in agriculture will be high demand. He expressed gratitude for all the support as there is need to continue to focus on guaranteeing food security and commit to resolving the various challenges facing agriculture in the Region. Now is the time to collaborate and undertake a joint commitment, he added.

IICA, meanwhile, has reiterated its commitment to assisting CARICOM countries in implementing the Food Security Plan, which seeks to mitigate the consequences of COVID-19 in the Region and increase agricultural production in the Region by 25 per cent over the next five years.

The FAO through its Small Island Developing States (SIDs) Climate project has been able to share with cash-crop farmers on climate-smart agricultural techniques and crop-management practices in a bid to mitigate the effects that changing weather patterns continue to have on agriculture.

The farmers manage predominantly cash-crop farms which are prone to saturation and flooding arising from rainfall, as well as water shortage, especially during the `El Nino’ weather phenomenon, thus threatening the livelihoods, food and nutrition security of small farmers in the three communities. The shade house is a recommended technique used to protect plants from severe weather patterns, providing a more favourable environment for plant growth.

Meanwhile, Guyanese singer Pooran Seeraj, earlier this month joined the IICA campaign to farmers and food chain workers who are ensuring the production, transportation, marketing and supply of food during the pandemic.

Seeraj is an agronomist who has featured on the Guyanese music scene for more than 10 years.

The IICA campaign has brought together renowned artistes from different countries in the hemisphere, who are selflessly participating in the popular music tribute to those who work day to day to put food on our tables.