Floods demolish St. Cuthbert’s Agri sector

FLOODS HAVE DEMOLISHED THE AGRICULTURE SECTOR IN ST CUTHBERT’S
MISSION Toshao Timothy Andrews disclosed in an exclusive with www.aroundtheregions.com
The Village Council is scrambling to purchase surviving produce – mostly cassava – from
farmers crushed by the devastation from several days of continuous torrential downpours which
have blanketed the Amerindian Mission.
“We are purchasing whatever they have as we recognise that its mostly cassava and we are
purchasing them all as a Council. Whatever is left in the farm that can actually be used or
processed to sell, we are doing that right now. We started the preparation yesterday (Saturday)
and we are processing them today. Whatever they bring in, whether its cassava or pepper as most
farmers that are affected plant bitter cassava,” the Toshao said.
He said bitter cassava takes one year before it can be reaped and the Council swiftly brokered the
deal with suffering farmers to help limit their financial losses by purchasing what’s left of their
cassava and pepper crops regrettably, below the current market value.
“We want them to have something so that they can make a new start we are aware that if it’s left
in the ground for another two to three days, we know that everything will rot away. A lot of it
has already started rotting but recognizing this, the village council decided that we will invest,”
Andrews explained.
“We the Council are not buying it at the normal price but at a reduced price as we have made an
offer to them. Usually, they would sell a bag for $6,000.00, but we have offered to buy it from
them at $3000.00 as we seek to ensure that they do not go at a complete loss,” the recently-
elected Toshao said.
He declared that his Village Council wants to invest as it’s the best avenue of ensuring that the
villagers can still have access to money.

“We want to invest. We want them to have money. We want them to recognise that we are there
with them (in this devastation) and truly understand what they are going through. We also want
to emphasise that we share their hurt, pain and disappointment,” the anguished Village Leader
told www.aroundtheregions.com.
The result has been very heartening.
“The response has been very overwhelming. Yesterday was preparation and many of them have
started bringing in their stuff. Several residents have come out to help also as they recognise that
the entire community has been affected,” he said.
Consequently, the Council has employed several residents to aid the emergency effort.
“We have employed persons giving them a stipend of about $700 to come around for the day and
assist us in helping to process the cassava. We know that it’s nothing big but every dollar counts
in these times. This is all being done to ensure that the villagers can have money in their pockets
at this time.”
“We took this initiative to the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs who urged us to go ahead as they
understand the situation and supported our decision. While we are trying to help persons, we are
ensuring that there is proper accountability and transparency in how we spend the monies so the
farmer’s jobs are just to deliver, while the Council has some persons who will be processing,
which includes packing the peppers, processing the bitter cassava in how to bake it among other
things.”
“The Council will also take the responsibility of selling the products at a reasonable price as we
are not looking for a profit but rather to see if we can make back the monies that we had spent in
this project. A cake of cassava bread in here is $600, but we may be selling it back for about
$200.00 or $300.00 as making a profit is not out primary goal at this time,” the Toshao said.
“Additionally, one pint of Kalli sauce (Tuma water used in cooking) is sold here for $200.00 but
we will sell it back for about $80.00 or $100.00. We are also looking at finding markets in
Georgetown or other parts of Guyana that we can find to sell the Cassava Cassareep as that is the
more valuable product that we will be doing,” the Toshao explained.

“We have put money aside to pay the farmers. We are helping them by selling on behalf of
the Village Council and the farmers are who have been responding in large numbers to this
imitative,” Toshao Andrews explained.