The National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI) recently commissioned several tilapia ponds in Region 7 that are to benefit farmers from the Lower Mazaruni and Cuyuni areas.

The venture is one aspect of a series of developmental projects spearheaded by agriculture volunteer Tessie Bugarin from the Filipino Volunteer Services Organisation (VSO) serving in Guyana. A Government Information Agency (GINA) press release said the main objective is for the station to serve as an active demonstration centre for farmers, in order to promote the practice of more organic and inexpensive methods of farming. It is located at 1 ½ Miles Bartica/Potaro Road.

GINA said farmers had the opportunity to benefit from several workshops and were awarded certificates for their competence in areas such as seed technology, gathering seeds and the importance of proper crop rotation. The centre was also rehabilitated through a collaborative effort by the United States Embassy and NARI.

The renovations included building a chicken pen, a compost shed, a guard hut and a plucking area.