Farmers in St Ignatius were last week given assurances by the Ministry of Agriculture regarding assistance in the development of approximately 128 acres of savannah land for the purpose of crop farming.

 According to a release from the Government Information Agency (GINA), Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud has urged the farmers to pursue a programme to develop crop and livestock farming.

The release said that according to Region Nine (Upper Takutu/UpperEssequibo) Chairman Clarindo Lucas, while on a two-day visit to the area, Persaud told residents that his ministry will make efforts to provide cassava sticks to farmers in the area.

The chairman told GINA that farmers had raised concerns about not having enough cassava sticks for planting and among the options put forward was the importation of cassava sticks from neighbouring Brazil. Persaud also advised the village’s Toshao to make efforts to acquire the sticks from another source.

The minister also urged residents to improve their breeding stock, promising an improved facility and personnel; the facility will be at the National Agricultural Research Institute’s (NARI) station, GINA stated.

Meanwhile, the village received a fog machine, chemicals, seeds and planting materials from the Agriculture Ministry.

Persaud also visited Moco Moco and he was also expected to visit Nappi and Parishara to discuss agricultural development while interacting with residents and farmers in the area.