THE Guyana Police Force, in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, on Saturday, hosted its inaugural Farmers’ Market at the Guyana Police Force Ground, Eve Leary.
The Farmers’ Market saw boat loads of shoppers flocking the stands of farmers, catching as many bargains as they possibly could at the one-day activity. This Farmers’ Market was geared at supporting local farmers and their produce at reduced costs for consumers.

One farmer from Linden, Kellysa Peters, stated that the initiative was of great benefit as they received great support from other farmers and the general public. Peters grows both fruits and vegetables, some of which were on display at her booth. They also reap peppers, sorrel, oranges, and corn.

Hubert Bacchus, also known as ‘Eddo Man’, from Kuru-Kuru noted that farming is something he has always enjoyed doing, and after serving in the army for some time, he moved to Kuru-Kuru, where he planted eddoes.
Meanwhile, Superintendent Leslyn Halley explained that the GPF has been making strong strides toward collaborating with the Ministry of Agriculture.

“We’re not just trying to detect crime, we’re preventing crime and one of the ways we can do that is to meet and collaborate with the communities.”
Additionally, Community Relations Officer and Superintendent, Althea Scipio, remarked that the only thing required from the farmers was their produce, and she guaranteed a safe and secure environment.

Adding her comments were Welfare Officer and Superintendent, Allison Moore, who noted that the activity would be a learning experience for ranks and the general public, noting that, “They would be in a position to interact with those farmers, to have tips on how to cultivate their own crops, how to rare livestock, or whatever their trying to do.”

At the Leonora farmers’ market in the first weeks of October, Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha, highlighted the dire need for farmers’ market day, adding that farmers’ markets will be started in an effort to help to maintain the prices of products.

In addition to farmers, a number of other entities were present with their products including the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI), the Guyana Marketing Corporation, Naked Soaps Guyana, and Mahaica Organics.
Agriculture Month 2023 is being held under the theme ‘Accelerating Vision 25, by 2025: In Agri Businesses and Food Security’, which is in line with the CARICOM Heads of Government commitment to reduce the Region’s food import bill by 25 per cent by 2025.