-other infrastructural, extension services to be improved, says Agriculture Minister

PLANS are underway to increase hybrid swine production at Ann’s Grove, East Coast Demerara and several other communities along that corridor.

This was disclosed, on Saturday, by Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha who, at the time, was engaging cash crop and livestock farmers during a cabinet outreach in the community.
“In Ann’s Grove, we have been working very closely with the farmers…This government works every single day in every part of this country; we are working to ensure that we bring relief to the people of our country,” he said adding, “Last year alone, we would have produced 4,735 hybrids of swine in this area. These are the things that we are working with farmers overtime.”

Meanwhile, residents expressed concern at the lack of extension services for farmers in the community.

One farmer, Errol Nedd, shared that previously farmers in the community would get frequent visits from extension officers, vets and other officials attached to the ministry.

But he noted that that had decreased over the last few years. “I grew seeing extension officers coming into the village; I got involved in agriculture because of the extension officers and for some reason I don’t see many nowadays,” the man bemoaned.

Responding to the farmer, Mustapha assured that extension services will ramp up in the community in order to establish a relationship between farmers and the agriculture ministry.

Currently, several extension officers have been assigned to work with farmers along the East Coast corridor as the ministry looks to revamp its extension services which will see farmers countrywide benefitting from effective government services, programmes and initiatives to improve productivity in the sector.

Meanwhile, as part of efforts to address several other concerns, steps will be taken to stop the spraying of chemicals in the canals and there will be improvement in relation to a number of agriculture infrastructure within the community.

“I am willing to work along with you as what we have been doing across the country. We have high-value crop. We can work with the young people in your community to realise the dream, both in the high-value crops, and livestock production. So, let’s form that team and work together,” Mustapha told the gathering.

As it relates to cash-crop farmers and agro-processors in the community, Mustapha disclosed that works are underway for the construction of an agro-processing plant at Hope Village. Once completed, this facility will see many farmers being able to add value to their produce and will provide agro-processors along the east coast corridor with easy access to the necessary tools needed to improve their products and businesses.

“By the end of this year, we will commission more than 30 agro-processing facilities across this country. And the closest one will be at the Hope Estate. I am inviting you so that we can take on the farmers from Ann’s Grove to use that facility.”