The Ministry of Agriculture says about 300 farmers along the East Coast Demerara will benefit from assistance with clearing and ploughing over 566 acres of backlands.

According to a Government Information Agency (GINA) press release the assistance will be rendered to farmers whose livelihoods had been affected by the prolonged dry season. The ministry had urged farmers to conduct land preparation exercises to increase land use. In this regard, assistance is being given for weeding, heaping, burning and other forms of preparation of uncultivated land that they may own or lease.

Areas expected to benefit include Victoria, Belfield, Nabaclis, Golden Grove, Dochfour, Ann’s Grove, Bee Hive, Two Friends, Clonbrook and Greenfield. These areas represent a major segment of the agriculture sector where mainly rice, other crops and livestock and subsistence and small scale farmers derive their livelihoods.

In an effort to efficiently monitor and manage the preparation of lands, the ministry purchased a tractor with implements which is more economical than procuring the services of a private contractor. On completion of this activity the machine will be used to assist the National Agricultural Research Insti-tute and the Guyana School of Agriculture in executing their field work.