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US, FFP commission model farm in New Amsterdam
Compliments of US Government, Food for the Poor, Oldendorf Carriers, St Francis Community Commissions and All Saints Scot’s Church, Food For the Poor Guyana Incorporated, commissioned an Integrated
Cutting the ribbon to the Integrated Model Farm is Mia a representative of Olderndorf Carriers with assistance from Charge D Affairs of the US embassy in Guyana Brian Hunte, CEO of FFP Ken Vincent, Andrea Benjamin, Project Manager of FFP, two students and Reverend Dr. SElby Ross.
farm model on a Plot of land owned by All Saints Scot’s Church at Princess Elizabeth Road (where the old High Court was once situated) New Amsterdam.
There were also a number of other collaborating partners at Monday’s commissioning.
Officiating at the commissioning ceremony was Charge D Affaires of the United States Embassy Bryan Hunt. Chief Executive Officer of Food for the Poor (FFP) Guyana, Ken Vincent; Head of Olderndorf operations in Guyana Mia; Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the SFCD, Head of The FFP programme of Berbice, Alex Foster, and Reverend Doctor Selby Ross of the All Saints Scot’s Church.
The project which began in early 2014 is situated on six acres of land. A number of fish ponds has been dug strategically and stocked with Red Tilapia and other fish. A drip system is also in place around the farm where hoses carry water around the farm. This is turned on periodically to water the plants.
Plans are on stream to introduce a hydroponic system. According to the dictionary ‘hydroponics is the cultivation of plants in a nutrient liquid with or without gravel or another supporting medium.’
The farm is already dotted with a number of crops including ground provision. The cost of the entire project is over $12M.
After the ribbon was cut the delegation took a guided tour around the farm. Charge D’
Charge D Affairs Brian Hunte pulling up his catch of Red Tilapia.
Affaires Hunt also threw the first castnet in one of the ponds and made quite a sizable catch. The farm consists of a Shade House and another one is to be built soon.
One of the main purposes of the establishment of the farm, is to assist students of a number of Secondary Schools in New Amsterdam area, among them New Amsterdam Multilateral, Berbice High School, Berbice Educational Institute, Tutorial Academy Secondary, Vryman’s Erven Secondary, and the New Amsterdam Technical Institute with their agriculture programmes. The nearby New Amsterdam Prison will also be a part of the project.
Each entity will be given a plot to cultivate under strict supervision of various entities including the Ministry of Agriculture.
Olderndorf Carriers assisted with the digging of the ponds, construction of the fence and the gate. While FFP was responsible for the sourcing of the fishes, construction of the caretaker house, the lights, shade house, garden implements and other facilities.
Speaking at the formal ceremony which was held at the All Saints Multipurpose hall, Hunt commended all those responsible for the coming to fruition of such a wonderful programme, and was more than pleased with what he saw.
He was happy to know that the FFP Inc. which garners most of its support from The USA was an integral part of the programme.
He stated, “This is what the USA is about, helping people to help themselves” what he just saw could be achieved with hard work and dedication. He said that Berbice could soon become the bread basket of Guyana and the Caribbean. He was happy that his government has contributed to the success of the programme.
He had high praise for Mr. Foster and stated that with persons like Mr. Foster around success must be achieve. He is happy to be of help at any time.
Ken Vincent, Chief Executive Officer of FFP, was also happy that the programme has come to fruition. He said that FFP is not only about food, but is always there where there is a need. He had words of encouragement to the students present and urged them to grab their education with both hands, alluding to his days as a student in New Amsterdam. He expressed thanks to Charge D’Affairs Hunt, the President, Government and people of the USA for their tangible and more than worthy assistance.
He urged those present to assist the FFP so that they could continue to receive help.
Also speaking at the ceremony was Finance Officer of Olderndorf Carriers Marlon Jaundoo, Reverend Ross of the All Saints Church and an official of the Fisheries Department.
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