Karasabai farmers gets support from Gov’t to expand production

The Amerindian Affairs Ministry disclosed that Forty-five families in Karasabai, Region Nine are planning to increase their agriculture production after receiving assistance from government.

The ministry revealed that they delivered on a promise, to provide barbed wires to the community, to protect the farms from animal intrusion. It was noted that prior to obtaining the wires to fence the farms, the Nabiuti Farming Group lost acres of crops every year, as animals would ravage them.  However, presently the items delivered by Amerindian Affairs Minister, Pauline Sukhai, has provided a silver lining for the agriculturists.

With over 50 years of farming, Raymond Carlos, is very happy with the governmental intervention. “It will help me to stop them animals from going in the farm. It got cows right there, pigs and sheep right there, it can stop them with that wire,” Carlos said.

It was revealed that among the farming group, there were nothing short of smiles, especially for Cyril Johnny, a 62-year-old farmer. Johnny revealed that cultivation will now be extended, and the community will be looking to supply Lethem with the increased produce.

“Our promise has been fulfilled with this barbed wire. I’m so thankful for it, we are thankful as farmers. We will use it on a sustainable way to produce, and to have a progressive and productive marketing,” Johnny said. He continued, “We will do much better now that we receive this barbed wire to do more further production.”

It was noted that the farmers in Karasabai traditionally plant peas, corn, cassava, plantain, bananas and eddo, but will be expanding to include citrus fruits.  As such, the intervention of government exemplifies its rhetoric of rebranding Guyana as an agriculture powerhouse, and the breadbasket of CARICOM.

Further, it was disclosed that it also contributes to the plethora of major initiatives Government implemented from August 2020. Among these are the Shade House Programme, where high-value crops are being grown; corn and soya bean cultivation at Ebini, black belly sheep project in Region Five, hatching eggs initiative, marine cage fishing project and the brackish water shrimp programme, just to name a few.

Government stressed that these programmes has solidify Guyana’s position as a key player to reduce CARICOM’S hefty food important bill by 25 per cent by the year 2025; a goal set by member States.

Meanwhile, Minister Sukhai congratulated the farmers for remaining resilient, in the face of what she said has been various challenges, including the unpredictable weather pattern. “When the rainy season comes, there are some places that will always be flooded. It is hard but what can we do, it is an act of nature. Please make use of it in the best interest of the farms,” Sukhai stressed  

The minister also distributed a brush cutter to the Community Support Officers, to help maintain the aesthetics of the village. The Amerindian affairs minister also addressed several governance issues affecting the community.