– GHI chairman

EXECUTIVE members of the Guyana Hemp Industry (GHI) are of the view that with officials of Region 10 pushing for the resuscitation of the region’s agricultural industry, the production of hemp can be a big boost to their agriculture drive.

GHI Chairman Vernman Bedessee and team on Tuesday held an outreach in the mining community as part of Hemp Awareness Week activities, to sensitise officials and more so farmers there of the plethora of benefits that can be had from the production and manufacturing of hemp.

Several by-products of hemp, including hemp milk, hemp flour, hemp fabric, shampoo, toothpaste, snacks, medicines, sneakers, power etc were on display in Linden as the executives met with regional officials including the President of the Linden Chamber of Commerce, Victor Fernandes, and representatives of the Region 10 Hemp Association.
Region 10 farmers were also told about how hemp can be grown.

“Without the farmers being aware with what it can do and how to grow it, we would not be able to take that next step,” Bedessee said.

Over 300 farmers residing in several communities across Region 10 are linked to the Region 10 Hemp Association and are willing to commence production, once it is legalised. They believe that it will create jobs for the hundreds of unemployed youths across the region and most importantly fortify the green initiative in which the government is pushing.
While the farmers have been made aware, Bedessee said things are at a standstill since the herb is considered illegal. “The strides are all about lobbying, if the government is not legalising it to pass it to grow, all we do is waiting in vain. Every day, every month; delaying the process, the farmer is getting poorer.

Whatever we do, we can’t pass that point in growing it because it is classified as illegal. We need the government to lift the ban because it is not a narcotic product,” he said.
The GHI would have met with the Ministry of Agriculture and other major stakeholders to push the call for the legalisation of hemp. Several awareness campaigns have also been held around Guyana.