–as inmates commence harvesting of crops

THE Guyana Prison Service’s (GPS) agriculture programme has been progressing well, according to Director of Prisons, Nicklon Elliot, who said the programme is equipping inmates with skills in farming and animal husbandry.
He said large-scale farming represents a “strategic goal” to maximise yields from the service’s investment in the agriculture industry.
Coordinator of the Guyana Prison Service’s Agricultural Department, Senior Superintendent (ag) Kofi David, said a total of 476 pounds of boulanger along with 231 pounds of bora were harvested at Mazaruni Prison Farm.
Farming is done at the New Amsterdam, Mazaruni, Lusignan and Timehri prisons with effort being focused on ensuring that farms are utilised to adequately supply the needs of the prison population in the coming years.
According to the Director of Prisons, the first quarter of this year was very productive since Boulanger, Pak Choy, Pumpkin, Papaya, Passion Fruit, Cherry, Guava and Watermelons were harvested.
For poultry farming, the inmates reportedly reared chicken which resulted in 6,214 kilograms of meat and 410 trays of eggs.