Region Ten (Upper Demerara/Upper Berbice) which has great agricultural potential will benefit from more infrastructural works as government seeks to create the base for agricultural expansion in a Region that once depended solely on mining.
Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud visited the Region on July 22, to update farmers on agricultural development works and to extend the ‘Grow more’ campaign during meetings with farmers and residents at West Watooka, Linden and Moblissa, Linden/Soesdyke Highway.
The ‘Grow more’ campaign launched in March is an ongoing effort aimed at involving more persons in Agriculture. This is one of the many initiatives undertaken by Government in responding to high food prices both locally and internationally.
Minister Persaud said that significant investment has been made in the Region to assist in agricultural development and to create the base for farmers to enhance cultivation. To date some $26M has been spent on cleaning and excavating of drainage channels. Dredging of the Cara Cara Creek was affected because of a technical problem, however, the Ministry has requested help from the mining company and work is expected to commence shortly. A contract was awarded to build a specialized pontoon, to accommodate machinery to execute work in the area.
Several outfalls, sluices and channels are being cleared and later an excavator will be deployed to the area. Other investments for the Region include the construction of a seedling house at Christianburg. This will ensure the availability of seedlings all year round.
It was also noted that the Cara Cara mined out areas consisting of six acres of land will be used to cultivate pasture grasses, some citrus, cashew nut and for cultivation of some new crops. Farmers are also utilizing newer technology such as drip irrigation.
Over the years the Ministry has spent close to $35M on developing agriculture in various areas, while working with different groups. The Ministry will be providing more technical support by boosting extension services in the Region.
With support of the Linden Economic Advancement Programme (LEAP), the Ministry is working to develop farmers to become commercially viable. “If we want to develop agriculture we must look at value- added and processing,” he said.
The Grow more campaign is market driven and in this regard the New Guyana Marketing Agency (GMC) is the facilitator.  New marketing opportunities are opening up in Grenada and Trinidad and Tobago and these, Minster Persaud noted, are very sensitive and as such “farmers have to gear themselves to the requirement to meet these needs”.
Under a US$21.9M Agricultural diversification programme the Ministry has brought in foreign consultants. He noted that the Ministry has very good co-operation with India and Brazil and at present a spice expert from India is in the country to develop the local spice industry. The Brazilian Government recently donated a quantity of soya beans and cashew nut seeds.
Land and land titles issues were also discussed.  The Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission has been expediting the process and some farmers will receive their titles soon.
Meanwhile, meeting residents at Moblissa, Minister Robert Persaud said the Ministry will look at improving the genetic breed of cattle in the area. The community is one that is slated for major agricultural development with the support of LEAP.
Framers also benefited from the distribution of plants, seeds, chemicals, booklets, farmers’ manual and farmers’ kit.