Minister within the Ministry of Agriculture Alli Baksh advised East Bank Essequibo cash crop farmers to form themselves into legally registered groups in order to access help from NGOs and other agencies to resolve issues affecting crop production.
Baksh met with farmers of Hubu and nearby communities and interacted with those from Parika Back, Naamryck, and Ruby at the Parika Back Primary School, during an outreach exercise on Monday. According to a Government Information Agency (GINA) press release, the minister told the farmers that by forming coops they will be better able to access financial and other agricultural support that government may not be able to supply in a timely manner because of constraints or other obligations. “The state can only help you to a point… but if you want to have more assistance there are Non Governmental Organisations… that will help you, if you are well organized and your activities are well planned,” he said.
The minister also said it was necessary that farmers help to maintain the drainage interventions implemented by the government and other agricultural agencies in the communities, in response to a remark about the lack of upkeep of drainage structures. “Many times when we do these things, there is the hope that people will do some things to help themselves by maintaining these systems, because we can’t do everything,” he said.
Farmers were also given the reassurance that government is aware of their challenges and of the importance of the agriculture sector. Further, Baksh said government will continue to make critical interventions to ensure the growth of the industry, despite the effects of climate change.
