On Saturday, Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha commissioned a new model farm at Talorgie Village on the Corentyne Coast.
A release from the Ministry of Agriculture said that the facility was constructed and outfitted through funding from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), at a cost of approximately $15 million under the ministry’s Sustainable Agriculture Development Project (SADP).
The farm is expected to assist with strengthening the ministry’s regional research and extension system. Additionally, it will provide farmers and students from the region with the opportunity to benefit from the new technologies being utilized by the ministry.
“This farm has been designed not only to test new techniques but to show firsthand how advanced methods can improve productivity, efficiency, and sustainability for small- and large-scale producers alike. Here, we will explore best practices in crop and livestock management, soil health, and water conservation, creating a vital resource to ensure our farms are prepared for the challenges of tomorrow,” the Minister said.
Mustapha also disclosed that the Ministry of Agriculture will soon collaborate with the Ministry of Education to ensure shadehouses are erected in every school in Guyana to assist with the cultivation of high-value crops.
Education Officer with responsibility for agriculture in schools Yonette Crandon, said “This is not just a piece of land. It is a vision brought to life and a testament to innovation, sustainability, good leadership and community collaboration. This model farm stands as a beacon of hope, illustrating how we, as educators, students and teachers can harness modern techniques while respecting traditional practices,” she explained.
This is the second model farm commissioned since the government took office. Last September, a similar facility was commissioned at Fort Wellington (Region Five). Mustapha said two other model farms will soon be constructed; one in Region Ten and the other in Region Two.
The release said that the farm is outfitted with a shade house, a cattle pen, a composting house with sections for vermi & thermophilic composting, a small ruminants pen, a Black Giant Pen with a roaming area, a swine pen outfitted with a fattening and farrowing pen as well as demonstration plots for the cultivation of orchards and high-value crops.
