Cattle farmers along the Berbice River and in the Intermediate Savannahs are to benefit from the acquisition of a cattle barge. According to a GINA press release, the barge, which is currently being tendered for, is to be procured by the Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA).
Dwight Walrond, GLDA’s Deputy CEO, says that the barge will bring relief to both the livestock authority and private livestock farmers.
“When you look at the cost to transport one animal to the station or from the station to the road, I think this barge would assist us greatly (and) the farmers in the Berbice River and the intermediate savannahs,” Walrond said. The acquisition of the barge is part of the GLDA’s budgeted $50M capital programme for this year, the release stated.
According to Walrond, “This is in keeping with the revamping of the Ebini Research station which began last year.
According to the release, as part of this process, a bus is being acquired to aid in the GLDA’s extension services to farmers.
“Farmers would have complained in the past, and even with our own internal evaluation we realised the quality of service we were putting out there to farmers as extension is not one we were proud of. As such, we made a pitch to have a bus that is equipped fully to assist us with our extension.
This bus is equipped with a projector, DVD player and generator so we can be out there with the farmers, use the farmer field school method and actually show (video) clips of what other farmers are doing whether within Guyana or other countries,” Walrond explained.
He added that, “Another of the capital projects is the construction of a quarantine outpost. We have to strengthen our surveillance system so that will help us monitor animals and animal products moving in and out of Guyana.”
