Region Ten still “tied” to mining

Mar 20, 2017 News

– But Chairman Rennis Morian not giving up in push towards agriculture

By Enid Joaquin

Chairman of Region Ten Rennis Morian, is once again touting agriculture and by extension agro-processing as the surest ways to bring both economic relief and ensure food security in Region Ten.
He has however acknowledged that it is not an easy task, as he has come to realize that most residents are still “tied” to bauxite mining.
In a town with some seventy percent unemployment, Morian, since attaining office a year ago, has been touting agriculture as the way to go.
For one who finds the time to farm in his own backyard, despite having a packed schedule, this should come as no surprise.
Morian said that the Region is currently exploring all avenues of support that could be channelled towards the agricultural drive.
He added that recently he would have sent correspondence to a number of embassies including the Chinese Ambassador, who responded positively.
“When I first came (into office) I felt the way to go was by promoting agriculture, so we started out by giving out seeds to small groups. However that did not work.”
Not one to give up easily, Morian has set his eyes on the bigger picture, which is commercial agriculture.
“Its two things we are doing right now; one is to get people’s mind off of mining – wean them, so to speak, and get them into agriculture by showing them the importance of planting.”
The Chairman said that presently the Region is “looking at Ebini in the Berbice River.”
He noted that Ebini possesses the kind of acreage needed for large scale agriculture, but acknowledged that what is needed there is mechanization.
Morian said that part of the discourse with the Chinese Ambassador revolved around acquiring the necessary equipment and agro-processing.
According to Morian the Region is also speaking with investors.
“We are going to be contacting funders both here and overseas with regard to agro processing.”

Decline
Haslyn Small, an agricultural science teacher attached to the Mackenzie High school, in a recent interview said that over the years agriculture has declined significantly in Linden and Region Ten, despite efforts to diversify the local economy.
Small drew attention to certain areas where the Linden Economic Advancement Programme (LEAP) had done infrastructural works to boost agriculture in the Region. However, little is being done in these places.
“Agriculture is not just throwing a seed in a hole, and saying you plant it, you have to take care of it – nurture it. Also what we need to have done is an in-depth study or analysis of the various soil types to determine the kinds of crops that would be best suited to particular soil types.”
In alluding further to the decline in this sector, Small pointed to the once thriving dairy farm at Moblissa, which several years ago produced the popular LIDCO pasteurized milk.
Small said that the National Agriculture Research Institute (NARI) had worked with the Caribbean Agriculture and Development Institute (CARDI) to develop the LIDCO enterprise.
The flagship LIDCO project at Moblissa involved a 4,000-acre dairy farm that was reportedly complemented by 25 private satellite farms. The project later became defunct, due to various challenges.

Demonstration Farm
A Demonstration Farm was established at Moblissa several years ago, in a drive to boost agriculture. Unfortunately, today the facility remains just another defunct project.
It was established on the property of a local farmer by LEAP.
According to LEAP sources, the initiative for the Demonstration Farm was birthed after a preliminary survey identified a number of constraints inhibiting agricultural growth in Region Ten.
Among some of the constraints were difficulties in acquiring plant material, insect and other pest infestation, poor methods of storage after harvest, and insufficient technical support.
The establishment of the facility on the twenty acre farm had, as its primary objective, the alleviation and eradication of most of those challenges facing farmers.
Other objectives included the improvement and management production capabilities of Region Ten farmers, through the provision of technical support such as access to research and training facilities.

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