Bringing seniors into the future
─ Agri-Cursion held to teach elderly modern farming techniques
DPI, Guyana, Tuesday, October 1, 2019
The Ministry of Agriculture, in observance of the International Day of the Elderly and marking the start of Agriculture Month, hosted an Agri-Cursion day at the Guyana School of Agriculture (GSA). The event targeted the elderly.
The ‘Agri-Cursion’ is an opportunity for senior citizens to get training and advice necessary if they need to operate or wish to manage their kitchen gardens. The participants will be also be given the first-hand experience with a number of advanced farming techniques.
The event is the brainchild of Minister within the Ministry of Agriculture, with responsibility for Rural Affairs, Hon. Valerie Adams-Yearwood.
“You’re going to learn how to do what we call composting so that you can make rich soil for your plants. You’re going to get the opportunity to see what a shade house looks like, you may have heard about it on television, you’re going to have the opportunity to see what the drip irrigation system looks like as well,” the minister told the seniors.
Many of the participants already have their own little kitchen gardens. Moreover, they are happy to be able to get advice on the challenges they face; one such participant is Goslyn Paul from Region 5, Mahaica Berbice. “I planted some cabbage, tomato, boulanger, but like they are suffering. Every day I water them, it is not making a difference.”
For him, this was a chance to learn what he needed to do to help his crops to survive. Evon Adams was another participant who, while not currently operating her own kitchen garden, was happy to learn as much as she could. “We are being given information about what is done in the shade house; it is where they grow cash crops. The one that is being grown here now is tomatoes. The shade house also, we are told, lessens the labour because you have tunnels I think, just pipelines with emitters,” Adams noted.
The participants also toured the Guyana School of Agriculture’s livestock farm to learn the basics of livestock farming. At the end of quite an educational day, the seniors were treated to refreshments and light games.