The Bush Lot Secondary was granted a lease for a 1.2-acre plot of land located aback the school to develop agriculture after waiting for the past two years.

Headmistress of the school, Catherine Beaton was elated earlier this month as Minister of Agriculture, Robert Persaud handed over the lease to her at the Open Day & Exhibition organized by the Mahaica-Mahaicony-Abary/Agricultural-Develop-ment Authority (MMA/ ADA).

Beaton who was among 63 applicants to be given leases for agricultural purposes told Stabroek News that she feels “happy and grateful to have it.”

Minister of Agriculture, Robert Persaud examining produce showcased by the GAPA - Region Five group.

She is confident that with the help of the Parent-Teachers’ Association and the Old Students’ Association that is now being formed “we would be able to develop the land agriculturally and the children would be able to learn more and we would have better results.”
She said they have to acquire the funding to venture into large-scale agriculture but in the meantime they would be engaged in cash crop farming and “each class would be responsible for a [garden] bed.”

Addressing the gathering of farmers, schoolchildren and other invitees, Minister Persaud said that Region Five has tremendous potential for advancing in agricultural diversification.

He said the ministry has just created the Guyana Livestock Development Authority and is looking at a range of livestock activities.
It is also looking to diversify in the areas of fruits and vegetables, not only for local consumption but for export. He said too that there has been tremendous potential for aqua-culture and referred to the Onverwagt Aquaculture Enterprise – Aqua-Ranch.

The ministry has also dedicated almost 15,000 acres of land at Herstelling for the development of large-scale aquaculture.
In terms of sugar cultivation, the Blairmont Estate would also be expanded to produce more sugar as Guysuco seeks to achieve in excess of 400,000 tonnes of cane.

He pointed out that the MMA is very important in the drive to increase production but requires the full support of the farmers.
The main objective of the MMA scheme he said is to provide infrastructural support to facilitate agriculture development.

Senior Research Technician of the Hope Coconut Estate, Chandrika Persaud at his booth.

He noted that government would continue to invest in the MMA/ADA programme but is very disappointed with the low level of rates collection and pleaded with them to pay up on time. He nevertheless said that over the last three years farmers have been increasing the amount of payments owed.

He said while farmers may have genuine concerns about the canals not being cleaned there must be constant interactions between them and the MMA.

Meanwhile, at the exhibition, several booths were set up to showcase the different agricultural products including bees, forestry, livestock, sugar and rice.

At a booth presented by the Hope Coconut Estate, Senior Research Technician, Chandrika Persaud told Stabroek News that there is a drive to revitalize the coconut industry.

Intercropping
He pointed out that at present “coconut has no price” and as a result they are encouraging farmers to start intercropping by planting crops like papaya, pineapple and pepper between the coconut trees.

He said too that coconut has over 100 by-products and pointed that the fruit gives milk, cream and powder, the leaves – thatches and brooms, the flower – taddy (drink) and vinegar while the trunk provides building boards and furniture and the root – dyes for fabric as well as medicines.

Some of the coconuts on display were from different varieties such as the five-year – Jamaica Tall and Panama Tall, the three-year – Malaysia Dwarf, the 18-months – Hybrid and a cross between the three and five-year called Bastard.

Headmistress of the Bush Lot Secondary School, Catherine Beaton is all smiles after receiving the lease for a plot of land for agricultural purposes.

At the booth set up by the Onverwagt Aquaculture En-terprise, Managing Director, Andre Poonai told this newspaper that he was showcasing fingerlings and feed as well as “what it is like when it is grown and what it looks like when it is cooked.”

On sale was delicious bar-b-qued Tilapia grown at his fish farm. The fish which grow up to one and half pounds, the size required for his export market to the United States, contains 15 grams of protein and is rich in Omega 3 and 6.

He thanked the Guyana Trade & Investment Support, United States Agency for International Development, the Ministry of Agriculture, Go-Invest and the National Aquaculture Association of Guyana for his success in the business.

A booth that also attracted a lot of attention was the Region Five group of the Guyana Agricultural Producers’ Association – GAPA, which showcased a variety of organic crops like cabbage, bora, tomatoes, pumpkin, cucumbers and papaya.

Steve Mangal, national coordinator, told this newspaper that GAPA deals with all non-traditional commodities and part of its programme is to provide technical support to farmers. He said the group also works with farmers to develop proposals to seek funding from international organizations.

GAPA has over 7,000 financial members and while it continues to grow Mangal called on more farmers to get onboard.
GAPA is also on a drive to introduce new farming techniques like greenhouse and shade-house production and the use of drips and sprinkler irrigation systems.