‘Agr-Ability Field School’ slated for October

– to offer agricultural training to persons living with disabilities

As part of this year’s Agriculture Month activities, the Ministry of Agriculture will be hosting an ‘Agr-Ability Field School’ for persons living with disabilities.

The event, which will take place at the Guyana School of Agriculture’s Mon Repo campus on October 9, will see participants partaking in a number of agriculture related activities designed specifically for persons living with disabilities.

During a meeting with members of the Guyana Council of Organizations for Persons with Disabilities (PwDs), Minister Adams-Yearwood said that it is important for persons with disabilities to be involved in agriculture.

“The logic behind this initiative is to ensure persons living with disabilities are empowered and can become self-sufficient. Agriculture in Guyana is on an upward trajectory and it is government’s intention to include every member of society with a genuine interest in agriculture to benefit,” Minister Adams-Yearwood

The field school will be equipped with demonstration plots suitable for persons who are visually impaired and physically disabled, among others.

Additionally, some of the activities for the day include training in hydroponics, drip-irrigation, container gardening and composting.

Mr. Ganish Singh, Program Coordinator for Guyana Council and Organization with PwDs, commended the Minister for her continued support to persons living with disabilities.

“I remember when you were at Housing and you pushed for us (persons living with disabilities) to be allotted house lots. That was the first time we felt included in something of that nature. Now that you are here, I see that you have not forgotten us and I can already anticipate the success of this event,” Mr. Singh said.

He also indicated that within the organization, there are persons interested in agro-processing but are in need of financial and technical assistance to start their operations.

Minister Adams-Yearwood said that she intends to develop a proposal to have Government set up a grant that would allow persons with disabilities to access funds for agricultural purposes.

“I am working on putting forward recommendations for the development of a ‘Persons living with Disabilities’ Grant. This will provide start-up capital for persons living with disabilities who want to get into agriculture. The aim is for you to be able to earn from what you produce so that you can sustain yourself,” Minister Adams-Yearwood said.

Additionally, the group took the opportunity to commend Minister Adam-Yearwood for the work she did while serving as the Minister with responsibility for Housing at the Ministry of Communities, for the two disability houses that were built at Perseverance and Prospect Housing Schemes as was promised, adding that the structures they visited were well constructed.

They were also encouraged to develop a Co-op for this group of persons so that they can formally have representation for different areas for development.

Also present at the meeting were Guyana Council of Organizations for Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) representatives Mr. Cecil Morris and Ms. Theresa Pemperton.