– Minister McCoy

FARMERS of Kairuni, Kuru Kururu and Timehri in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) received the government’s flood relief grant on Saturday.

The farmers said the grant will assist them to move forward in redeveloping the agriculture sector. Cash crop farmer, Mr. Deonarine Narine, said he is proud of this initiative as it will allow farmers to return to their farmlands and boost Guyana’s food production. He said he will use the money to purchase fertilisers for his crops.

“It’s very hard to start back we farming to the scale that we had, but we still continue and we’re very glad for this grant from the government. At least is a help to get fertiliser back and get things in place to start moving forward…

“This is very good what the government is doing because to help the people to get back on their foot because without this we’ll fall more back, because some a we left the farming now and go to look work in other places and food production will get lower, we will get less food in the country.” Mr. Narine said.

Mr. Cleveland James, another farmer shared similar sentiments.

“Right now, the cash grant came in real aright because instead of investing in going more into the swamp I could do something on the hill, maybe I can buy a pump that could assist me, it will assist down the line maybe in developing the farm more…I thank the government for whatever assistance they giving and we will put it to use,” Mr. James said.

Minister within the Office of the Prime Minister with responsibility for Public Affairs, Kwame McCoy, spearheaded the distribution exercise.

The Public Affairs Minister encouraged the farmers to take advantage of the many opportunities presented to them in the agriculture sector so as to make a significant contribution to global food security.

“Work to ensure that we are not only the bread basket of the Caribbean but we are a major, major contributor of food production and food security across the world and so ambition must be the beginning of everything we seek to pursue for our individual and collective good.

“We will position ourselves to be able to take advantage of all those opportunities that exist to be able to reach the ambition that we set out for ourselves,” the Minister said.

He explained that the government is working to enhance the quantity and quality of food produced in the country. The minister emphasised that farming should no longer be treated in the traditional way, but should be expanded since agriculture will bring tremendous benefit to Guyanese.

Minister McCoy reiterated that the government understands the losses and devastation faced by farmers and will continue to make the necessary investments to improve their livelihood. (Modified DPI release)