Agricultural training, shade house for Ituni residents – Min. Adams-Yearwood
─ residents to undergo training in Agriculture
─ construction of shade house can commence next week the earliest
DPI, Guyana, Thursday, August 22, 2019
Minister within the Ministry of Agriculture, with responsibility for Rural Affairs, Valerie Adams-Yearwood has reiterated her intention of making sure that every community in Guyana participates in some aspect of agriculture.
On Thursday, Minister Adams-Yearwood, along with a team from her ministry, visited Ituni – a small community with approximately 200 families, located some 63.8 kilometres from the town of Linden.
The community meeting which was held at the Howell Wilson Primary School, saw the team engaging residents on ways in which they can better improve their agricultural practices and to find solutions to challenges they are experiencing.
Minister Adams-Yearwood explained to the residents that the right approach to any agricultural practice is to first gain substantial knowledge by undergoing training. She explained that the ministry is prepared to provide training free of cost; once a group of 25-30 individuals indicate their interest.
The residents who are willing to get involved in cash crop farming were also excited when they heard that works to establish a shade house in the community will commence by next week the earliest.
Also attending the meeting was Regional Agricultural Officer for Upper Demerara-Berbice, Region 10, Deryck Collins. According to Collins, the shade house project is aimed at making the community more self-sufficient.
Speaking with the Department of Public Information (DPI), Collins said the materials are already available for the project to begin. “We are also donating seedlings for them [residents] to start planting. So, we will bring all the materials down to the community, get persons to work in a self-help effort to put up the structure and at the Regional level all technical supports will be provided,” the Agricultural Officer added.
Meanwhile, Minister Adams-Yearwood handed over two sewing machines and a bolt of cloth to the Ituni Super-Fem Women’s group. Chairwoman of the 16-member committee, Akeisha Naipaul received the gifts on behalf of the group members.
“The donation is to assist the children who are vulnerable in this community… You’re to sew school uniforms for them. Also, members can use these machines to earn a living, but it must be utilised by every member,” the minister emphasised.
Several ‘David G’ school bags were also distributed to primary school students who were present at the meeting.