Revitalising hinterland farming

 ─ $10M invested in hinterland coffee industry for 2018 and 2019 each

─ creating small industries for sustainable employment

─ establishment of a Farmer’s Institute soon, to teach hinterland farmers the necessities to adequately grow and sell their crops

 DPI, Guyana, Wednesday, August 7, 2019

“The Coalition Government has worked tremendously to ensure we empower our people throughout the nation, especially the Indigenous peoples. They have come a far way and have turned things around for themselves, families and their villages, through several developmental projects and presidential grants.”

Minister within the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Hon. Valerie Garrido-Lowe made these remarks during a radio interview on VYBZ 100.1FM.

The minister focused on hinterland development through extensive farming. She explained that under the present administration, works are in the pipeline to create small industries within the hinterland communities to adequately sustain and provide employment for the youths.

“Before, the Indigenous peoples were not properly empowered or represented, and under the Coalition Government there are opportunities to provide the people of the hinterland regions with the key to a better life,” the minister noted.

She added that the coffee industry in the hinterland was allotted $10M in 2018 and 2019, respectively, to properly harvest, produce and package, locally made coffee for every Guyanese to have in their homes.

“In the next two years, the people of Santos Rosa will be harvesting coffee, and this is a big thing for the people. For more than 40 years, they planted their coffee but were not given the push to properly package the produce for the market. Now there is change,” Minister Garrido-Lowe mentioned.

The minister also disclosed another development planned for the Santa Rosa community, located in Region One. This, she explained, is the establishment of a Farmer’s Institute which will teach hinterland farmers the necessities to adequately grow and sell their crops.

“The Indigenous peoples love farming, so we are ensuring they become educated within the sector. We want the youths to take up farming too and become their own bosses. There will be an extensive collaboration with other Government Ministries and NGO’s before we can facilitate the institute,” she highlighted.

Under the Coalition Government, residents in the hinterland regions have benefitted vastly from the Hinterland Employment and Youth Service (HEY’S) Programme. More than 4,000 youths have been provided with skills training, which has led to the establishment of 2,000 businesses.

The residents also became beneficiaries to a number improved infrastructural, education and health facilities.