For farmers in two hinterland villages, located hundreds of miles apart, common concerns of transportation, markets, pests and climate change were raised with Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud, when he visited the two communities yesterday.
Paramakatoi located in the Region Eight (Potaro/ Siparuni) and the Region Nine (Upper Takutu/Upper Essequibo) community of Aishalton were the villages visited by Persaud as part of Agriculture month activities.
While the minister promised that some of the farmers’ concerns would be addressed, he noted the limited resources of the ministry and urged that farmers be realistic.
For the Region Eight farmers, a sore issue was the availability of farmlands. Several of them were very vocal on this point with Regional Chairman Senor Bell also stating that some areas did not have farmlands. Farmer, Gregory Simon declared that “demarcation is going to squeeze us” noting that most of the communities’ lands were savannahs and unsuitable for production. He asked for an extension of their lands “so we can produce more”. He was supported by several other residents on this. In response, Persaud said that the issue was sensitive but he would raise it with the Minister of Amerindian Affairs.
Another concern was the lack of markets with one farmer noting that there was plenty of produce but no market while the difficulty in accessing the region with the lack of roads was raised. Another asked whether it was possible to send in a truck at least twice a year to transport produce. He said that for the activity yesterday, farmers were reluctant to bring their produce asking first whether there was a market. Persaud while agreeing that the issue was critical said that it would have to be looked at in a practical and realistic manner. In his address he had said that the isolation of the communities was “a major humbug” with the immediate challenges being the logistics such as transportation. He noted that this would have to be addressed and it would cost a lot of money but it must be overcome. He said that if the road cannot be dealt with, interim solutions such as preservation, linkages with other communities and export to Brazil should be considered. He asserted that “there is a demand for produce but markets are hundreds of miles away” and urged the farmers to look at preservation and processing, noting that value-added products would fetch a higher price and could be kept longer. Persaud declared too that “what you have as a distinct advantage is organic food”, noting that it is healthy and safe
One farmer described agriculture in the region as “handicapped” with no capital available. She asked whether farmers there could be given a little capital so that they could have “better agriculture”. Another asked for donations to purchase tools. One farmer, citing the lack of jobs, requested that loans be made available to purchase chainsaws and fuel, arguing that trees could be cut for timber instead of being burnt for farming. Bell had earlier said that there were 6000 Amerindians in the region and 5000 were unemployed. Reiterating the need to be “practical and realistic” the Agriculture Minister said that the ministry had limited resources but would collaborate with the Amerindian Affairs ministry and make representation on their behalf.
Acoushi
Hannah Williams from Micobie stated that acoushi ants were a major problem resulting in loss of crops and requested seeds. A farmer from another village requested chemicals stating that his village had fogging machines but no chemicals. Persaud, noting that over the years this issue was difficult to deal with, promised to provide some.
One farmer said that there is a need for more extension officers and called for workshops to be held to educate farmers. She declared that there is fertile land lying unused and said that education on the use of chemicals needed to be done as the fertility of the soil will be exhausted. Persaud pointing to the recent appointment of two extension officers to serve the region stated that the ministry was looking at employing extension agents to assist them, with at least one from each community and promised that soon technical officers would visit selected communities.
In the mountainous region, the availability of water was cited as a problem too with one farmer stating that there; they depend on the rainy season. “We don’t want chemicals, we want water”, the man said. Climate change was also on the minds of those present with Bell asserting that “now we can’t even predict the weather” adding that when persons expected rainy weather, it was dry and vice versa.
Illegal activity
Earlier, the Agriculture Minister stated that 33% of Guyana’s income came from agriculture alone and declared that emphasis was being placed on hinterland agriculture. He noted too that agriculture being used to produce energy.
The minister however cautioned the residents about engaging in “other types of production”. He said that the ministry received reports of farmlands being used not for food production but for “other types of production and you know what I am talking about”. “That is not agriculture! That is outright illegal activity” he declared noting that reports of such activities had been received from the region and law enforcement.
Addressing students of the Paramakatoi Secondary School, the minister stressed the importance of education noting the evolution of agriculture with technological changes that required trained personnel. He committed $250,000 to the school to establish a poultry project there while urging them to look at other livestock also.
In Aishalton under a hot Rupununi sun, similar issues were raised and Persaud pointed to the opportunities offered in linking with Brazil. He stated that there were opportunities in livestock and investors had expressed interest. He said 40,000 acres of land had been identified for such activity.
On the acoushi ants plague, the minister, stating that large quantities of bait and chemical had been distributed but had only been a drop in the fight against the pest, requested that elders who had dealt with this problem pass on their knowledge noting that this particular problem plagues farming in hinterland areas.
Derrick Winter, the toshao of Aishalton, said that the villagers want to improve paddy production and requested a bigger rice huller. He said too that fish stocks were declining in the area and there was interest in aquaculture. Persaud said that officers would be sent out shortly to link with farmers. He said that while the Rupununi was on its way to becoming self-sufficient in rice he hoped that it was not at the expense of cassava.
Region Nine Chairman Clarindo Lucas raised the issue of climate change, stating that with lots of rain falling, crops were being destroyed. He questioned too “what is the use of asking you to produce more when there is no market for surplus”? Maranawau toshao Patrick Gomes noted the severe constraints faced with the roads and requested that the minister acts as a facilitator to assist in having an all-weather road built. Lucas, who arrived after the activity started, in supporting this stated that on the way to Aishalton from Lethem his vehicle had “stick up” five times and had to be pulled out. Persaud responded that he would be making representation to his cabinet colleagues on this while noting also that Guyana was taking the lead on fighting climate change. He asserted that all of Guyana is being affected by this phenomenon.
An exhibition showcasing various agricultural products was held in the community which the minister declared open. Also accompanying him were John Woolford, Hinterland Coordinator and Dr. Oudho Homenauth, Director of the National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI). Regional officials as well as representatives from surrounding communities were in attendance.
