Latest update November 23rd, 2024 1:00 AM
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Region ten farmers urged to seek new prospects
Some of the farmers during the meeting yesterday.
Farmers in Region Ten have been urged to look at new opportunities and to face difficulties being experienced in order to overcome the challenges being faced within the agricultural sector.
Minister of Agriculture, Robert Persaud, during a meeting with farmers at Wisburg Annex Burnham Drive, yesterday, said that the bauxite industry has suffered tremendously from the financial slow down and the community is feeling some of the effects.
However, he noted that this period requires the farmers to look at new opportunities and to meet the difficulties head on.
Minister Persaud explained that a critical area, where work has started over the years, and which the government wants to accelerate, is how agriculture can be utilised as one of the means of meeting those difficulties.
He noted that the community has made some strides in terms of food and agricultural production and in reducing its dependence on other communities to provide food for the people in Region Ten but pointed out that much more works needs to be done.
This is where he said the programme of sustained support plays a part for the farmers and the farming community as a whole.
Drainage and irrigation is one area where a lot of sustained support has been placed because it was recognised that in some farming communities, these areas can only be properly formed if there is improved drainage and irrigation.
In 2008, Persaud said that Central Government spent some $60 million on drainage issues within the community, while this year, the government will be spending a similar amount or more.
According to the Agriculture Minister, the region ten farmers association has received different forms of support and inputs from the ministry in terms of training and linkages outside of the region with vital agencies and institutions.
He pointed out that the Ministry is also working with NARI to develop a shaded house facility so that farmers can see what types of appropriate technology can be utilised.
Since there is a lot of land issues in Region Ten, Persaud said that the region has been placed as a priority area.
As the gateway to the interior, Linden must be the supply point for all those who are venturing into the interior, whether they are engaged in mining or forestry, the Agriculture Minister said.
“With the impending opening of the Takutu Bridge, it talks about a greater market going down. Think about the possibilities of long term investment.
I want the farmers in this region to position and prepare themselves for such undertaking because if we don’t think ahead and be in a position to capture these opportunities it would be difficult as it were for us to make good use of what exist out there,” Minister Persaud said.
The Region Ten farmers association also received a quantity of seeds and planting materials from the ministry.
During the visit to Linden, Minister Persaud also inspected the ongoing works of the clearing of the Cacatara Creek which is being done at a cost of some $800,000.
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