New processing plant among relief for Yarrowkabra farmers- Mustapha announces

Farmers living at Circuitville and Yarrowkabra on the Soesdyke/ Linden Highway will soon be the beneficiaries of a swine facility, processing plant and a water system.

These are some of the commitments made by the Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha on Friday when he met with the farmers. During the outreach, the farmers voiced their complaints and the challenges they face.

Among the challenges mentioned was the lack of farming supplies, such as pesticides and animals for rearing. According to the farmers, the space is available for them to rear giant chickens; they also said there is a need for a water system.

In response, Minister Mustapha said, “As long as we can find a source, we will build a canal. We will work with every single group.”

One farmer explained that already the farmers are using the space available to rear black birds but he added that, “We have the land space so what we are asking is if we could get the assistance with an incubator.”

Another farmer said that they need pesticides to protect their crops.

“We don’t know what is poisoning the crop and then the acoushi ants and caterpillars coming and taking over,” the farmer complained.

In response, the minister said that officers from the National Agricultural Research and Extension institute (NAREI) will distribute acoushi Ants bait free of cost.

Guyana is on the verge of becoming the bread basket of the Caribbean, therefore the farmers must work together, the Agriculture Minister said.

He noted that the government is trying to further develop the agriculture sector and as such, he promised that a swine facility and processing plant will be constructed to produce sausages.

According to Minister Mustapha, teams from the ministry will return to the community to commence working with the farmers.

In addition, the ministry will also donate black giant birds to two women groups in the community for rearing.

He said each group will be given 100 birds each.

Seedlings and fertilisers will also be provided to the farmers to assist them in developing their farmlands.