The Guyana Prison Service (GPS) through its agriculture programme has harvested a quantity of vegetables at the Mazaruni Prison Farm.
A GPS press release stated that Coordinator of the Agricultural Department, Senior Superintendent (Ag) Kofi David, informed that a total of 457 pounds of boulanger along with 231 pounds of bora were harvested.
Director of Prisons, Nicklon Elliot, explained that through their aim to create a self-sustaining food supply, the GPS has embarked on a robust agriculture programme which not only provides inmates with the opportunity to be skilled in farming but also in animal husbandry.
He added that the programme’s strategic goal is to maximise yields through the service’s investment in large scale farming for the prison industry.
Farming is being done at the New Amsterdam, Mazaruni, Lusignan and Timehri prisons.
Elliot disclosed that farming (including poultry farming) for the first quarter of the year has been productive and has resulted in the GPS reaping 2,085 kilogrammes (kg) of boulanger, 78kg of bora, 1,087kg of pak choy, 591kg of pumpkin, 110kg of papaya, 455kg of passion fruit, 45kg of cherry, 78kg of guava, 36kg of watermelon, 6,214kg of chicken, and 410 trays of eggs.
The release also noted that recent efforts are focussed on ensuring that farms are utilised to sufficiently supply the needs of the prison population in the coming years.
