Tappin’ into Agriculture
─ Tappin Brothers pushing food security in Linden
DPI, Guyana, Tuesday, September 24, 2019
Driven by the need to help their community to become self-sustaining, the Tappin brothers have their eyes on being the biggest seedling suppliers in Linden, Region 10.
Cleveland and Oliver Tappin are members of the One Mile CDC [Community Development Council] and are both involved in farming. Cleveland was lucky enough to undergo training in seedling cultivation in Trinidad and is using this as his basis for promoting agriculture and food security.
“We are promoting seedling production along with plants and we are encouraging farmers in the community to rear livestock also like chicken, birds, pigs and plant permanent crops. We are trying to achieve subsistence in the community so that we can get the things needed in the community and by encouraging others to do likewise the message will be spread further. Through this we can encourage food security; it is the way forward.”
The One Mile CDC has established the community seedling nursery to provide residents with free seedling distributions as well as practical assistance to start their very own kitchen gardens. The seedling nursery is manned by the two brothers. Cleveland has also been using his training to explain the importance of buying localised seedlings.
“Most farmers go out of the region like West Dem and buy a lot of seedlings but it is important that you grow seedlings in your community because when you purchase seedlings from outside your community it usually goes through what is called stress adaption. So, it is better to buy from within your own community.”
The work being done by the Tappin Brothers is supported by Minister within the Ministry of Agriculture, with responsibility for Rural Affairs, Hon. Valerie Adams-Yearwood who urged the farmers present at the Regional Agricultural and Commercial Exhibition (RACE) to continue to grow their practice.
“We have the land for Agriculture, we have the land for manufacturing. In Region 10, we want to expand RACE, we want to grow more, we have the farmers, they have the wherewithal!”
Since the call for the adaption of the green economy, the seedling producers have noted an increase in persons showing interest as well as farmers utilising the seedlings which allow for a quicker process. The National Agriculture Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) also came on board and have engaged the producers on special projects. These include the production of purple cabbage, ginger and sweet corn.
Editor’s Note: Stress adaption in farming refers to a the period of acclimatization a plant/seedling will undergo when it is transplanted from one growing environment to another.