MEMBERS of the Woodley Park Women’s Cash Crop Farmers’ Group of Woodley Park, West Berbice, on Saturday, received a quantity of fertilisers and seeds to assist with their cultivation.
The items were handed over to representatives of the group by Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha, during an outreach to several areas in Region Five. President of the group, Guyannatie Ragubir, said that for years she has been writing to the ministry on behalf of the group for assistance but was never successful.

“Since we formed the group, I’ve been writing to the ministry for assistance but I never even got an acknowledgement. About three weeks ago, I wrote to Minister Mustapha asking for assistance for the group and, today, I am happy to be receiving these items,” Ms. Ragubir said.

The group comprises 26 female farmers who cultivate mainly cash crops like lettuce, celery, cabbages and eshallots, to name a few. Saturday’s donation comprised four bags of ‘12 12 17 2’ fertiliser and a number of seeds valued at over GY$30,000.

Minister Mustapha, while making the presentation, said the government will continue to support farmers in an effort to improve their production.
“If as a government, we will be working to improve the livelihood of the citizens of this country. If we are to take agriculture to the next level, we have to make resources available to support these types of groups and activities. [Saturday’s] donation represents one of many that will be done in an effort to boost the production and productivity of our farmers. Agriculture is often seen as a man’s profession but these women have great potential, and I am very impressed with what they have achieved so far,” Minister Mustapha said.

Minister Mustapha also indicated that the ministry is collaborating with the Inter-American Institute for Corporation on Agriculture (IICA) to assist the farmers’ group with a number of farming tools shortly.

Only recently, the group benefited from an agriculture training that was organized by IICA, in collaboration with the National Agriculture Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) and the Basic Needs Trust Fund (BNTF).