| Farmers at West Watooka and its environs no longer have to worry about where to market their produce; thanks to the realisation of a promise made to them during the recent Cabinet outreach, to have a tarmac established at the entrance to the farming community, for farmers to sell their produce.Declaring the facility open, yesterday, was Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud. He described the location of the farmers’ tarmac as unique, as it is easily accessible, not only for Lindeners but for people who pass through the town on their way to the interior.Persaud said that all are aware of the socio economic changes, and the need to look for viable economic activities to support these communities that were once heavily dependent on bauxite.The outlet at LindenHe said that the adjustments and changes taking place are not unique to Region Ten but are happening all across our country as all sectors and many communities have had to adjust to some change.He alluded to the sugar and rice industries, whereby given changes and new world realities. “We’ve had to proceed in a manner that we can survive, and can make adjustments to cushion the impact on our people.”Persaud pointed out that where we once had guaranteed markets and prices for our produce, which made it easier, and led somewhat to some degree of complacency,NFL Jerseys From China, this is no longer so.He said that the tarmac is the latest in the stream of development in the agricultural sector, and emphasised that the facility is an investment solely for the purpose of marketing farmers produce, and exhorted the gathering to ensure that the facility is not used for any purpose other than that for which it was established.Manager of the New Guyana Marketing Corporation, Nizam Hussein, who was also on hand to witness the commissioning, declared, “When we speak about agricultural development we hear the words ‘farmers and markets’ being discussed simultaneously. “At Guyana Marketing Corporation we are cognizant of how important it is for farmers to have access to markets, and this is why we have embarked on advancing and gathering more information on markets for our farmers produce.”“At the moment we have markets identification studies being conducted and competitiveness studies for markets in the Caribbean, in North America, primarily in the US and Canada, and this is to build on the existing information that we have at GMC.“Additionally very shortly we will be launching the improved market information system at GMC which involves revamping the GMC’s website and putting on the website information of all the necessary requirements to access a specific market and also what products are available, who are the buyers and who are the producers.”Hussein said that the GMC is prepared to work with the farmers. Markets have to be central and visible to be successful, and also have a variety of produce, he added.The tarmac should not be used for any other purpose but the marketing of farmers’ produce, and advised farmers to have established market days, which they need to communicate to both buyers and sellers.Regional Chairman Mortimer Mingo noted that the Ministry of Agriculture has made significant impact in the area of Agricultural development in Region Ten.He also pointed out that the Ministry has made tremendous input through the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority, out of budgetary allocations to the RDC even though Region Ten does not come under the ambit of that sector.Scores of Lindeners who were on hand for the official opening of the tarmac, eagerly purchased the very first set of produce that were offered for sale by the farmers; while a few lucky farmers were presented with pigs from the Ministry of Agriculture. |
