– as part of government’s food security strategies aimed at making hinterland regions resilient

THE Ministry of Agriculture through its Agriculture Sector Development Unit (ASDU) is currently working with farmers from Sand Creek in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) to develop a cassava germplasm as part of its crop breeding, research, and conservation efforts.

This initiative was conceptualised following several visits by President Irfaan Ali and Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha to the region during and after the 2021 floods. The Head of State had committed to working with communities to develop their food security strategies in a way that will make their food production both resilient and sustainable.

Cassava farmers in the region were adversely affected by the floods which destroyed almost 90% of the country’s agriculture sector. As a result of the massive cassava shortage due to water damage following the flood, funding was sought to develop the cassava germplasm.

The ministry had also signed a contract with the Sand Creek Village Council valued at $4 million for the implementation of a cassava germplasm bank and the supply of farm tools support for farmers with funding provided by the Government of Guyana and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) under the Hinterland Environmentally Sustainable Agricultural Development Project (HESADP).

While the project is being executed in Sand Creek, surrounding villages in the region will also benefit from quality planting materials for cassava cultivation.
Last November, Minister Mustapha also handed over three heavy-duty tractors procured under the ministry’s Rural Agriculture Infrastructure Development Project (RAID) along with planting materials and other inputs to several villages in the region.

Three tractors with implements included a cassava planter, harrow, a disc plough, and a roam plough were also handed over for use in the region.

Farmers from the villages of Shulinab, Meriwau, Sand Creek, Awarenau, Mururanau, Rupanau, Katoonarib, Baitoon, Potarinau, Quiko, Parikwarinau, Aishalton, Shea, Taushida and Koshebai (South Pakaraimas) had benefited from breeding bulls and boars to improve their villages’ genetic material; cassava sticks; coconut seedlings; shade house materials; as well as an ATV.