Farmers from Bonasika, Leguan and Wakenaam were on Wednesday updated on government’s plans to develop the root crop industry by Minister of Agriculture Zulifikar Mustapha, says a press release from the Ministry of Agriculture.
During a meeting with farmers on the island, the release disclosed that government was considering the development of the root crop industry to satisfy demands in the region. According to the release, following the Agri-Investment Forum and Expo, which was held at the Arthur Chung Conference Center last May, bilateral discussions between local government officials and officials from other CARICOM countries pointed to a ready market for a variety of root crops that can be grown in Guyana.
“You, the farmers, and the government have to work together so that we can consolidate and expand what we already have. NAREI will work with you to develop your root crops cultivation because we have a ready market for those crops. We have so much demand, but we cannot satisfy that demand yet. If every farmer here is willing to get on board, we will work with you. We will help you to develop the land and supply all the planting materials required so that at the end of the cycle, we can have tons of root crops coming out of Bonasika,” Mustapha explained.
Farmers were advised that commodities such as turmeric, ginger, cassava, sweet potatoes, and eddoes, were some of the root crops that were in demand, and that the ministry was ready to work with them so that they can tap into a ready market. This is in keeping with CARICOM’s efforts to reduce its regional food import bill by 25% by the year 2025. There are approximately 150 farmers on the island who cultivate a variety of fruits and cash crops. Additionally, farmers present were told that the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) would soon commence a series of drainage works on the island. A team from the ministry had visited the island sometime last month, and based on their assessment, the proposed scope of works could not be completed this year.
“I have a report here. The most important things you need, based on what is here in the report, is proper drainage for your farms and to have the bushes cleared. The entire programme will cost about $120 million. We did not budget for those works this year but because of the importance of agriculture, and the fact that we want to ensure you have the necessary infrastructure to ramp up your production, we will put systems in place to start those works. It will have to be done with a pontoon so that works can be done on both sides. Those works will not be completed this year. It will take some time; I want to be honest with you,” Mustapha explained.
He further noted that the NDIA will advertise for the works and once the process is completed, those works will commence. Similarly, while meeting with farmers from Wakenaam and Leguan, Mustapha committed to have all the main canals and dams cleared and rehabilitated. Mustapha said that another excavator would be made available to assist farmers on Wakenaam Island. Farmers from Wakenaam Island informed the minister that the machine currently used to perform works on the island was unable to execute because of the magnitude of works to be done. The ministry would work with the region to have another excavator on the island soon, responded the minister.
Meanwhile, during his meeting with farmers from Leguan Island, Mustapha said that they could start receiving their fertilizer assistance from as early as next week. But this could only be done once the list of names provided are verifiable. During the meeting, farmers raised their concerns about whose names were on the list. While some farmers questioned some of the names that appeared on the current list for the island, other farmers said that many of the names queried were indeed farmers who cultivate very small plots of land. The minister explained that committees comprising farmers and extension officers from the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) were tasked with developing the list, and that until the lists was finalized, the distribution process would not commence. Farmers were given until the end of the week to finalize the list. Officials from the GRDB are also expected to return to the island tomorrow to assist with the process.
