Farmers get over $6M in equipment to boost production

To improve and increase their production in the agriculture sector, farmers from ten communities along the Soesdyke/Linden Highway on Wednesday received $6M in equipment from the Ministry of Agriculture.

The contribution is in keeping with a commitment made by Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha during a meeting with the farmers last Friday.

During the outreach, the farmers voiced their complaints and the challenges they face, including the lack of farming supplies, such as pesticides and animals for rearing.

During brief remarks at the handing over ceremony, Mustapha said as of recent, there has been renewed interest in the agriculture.

As such, he hoped that the support to the farmers will aid to “ramp up” their production.

“I hope that this will help the farmers in the communities to ramp up production. To get to back to their farms as quickly as possible.

“This show our commitment to ensure that we improve agriculture in our country….We are seeing a renewed interest today in the agriculture sector, we are seeing a renewed demand also for food and food security in our country and the Caribbean,” the minister said.

Among the items which the farmers received are motorized tillers, pumps, spray cans, chemical, acoushi ants baits and farming tools, including cutlasses and shovels.

The farmers expressed gratitude to Mustapha for delivering on his promise.

Chairman of the Yarrowbabra farmers group, Murry Greenidge described it as a “plus” for the development of farmers.

“The farmers has been looking out for things like these…You can be assured that these resources will be treated with care and concern and we will ensure that we get effective and efficient service out of them,” Greenidge said.

Mustapha had also told the farmers from Circuitville and Yarrowkabra that they will soon be beneficiaries of a wine facility, processing plant and water system.

In the coming week, Mustapha said a technical team will visit Linden where they are expected to access the infrastructure needed to improve the agriculture sector.