The agriculture programme being implemented by the Guyana Prison Service (GPS) has proven to be a sustainable and cost-saving venture, says Nicklon Elliot, Director of Prisons.
The Service’s “Grow More campaign” has inspired the expansion of the agricultural drive, allowing more inmates to benefit from skills training that can aid their personal productivity both inside and outside of prison, post-release.
In 2022, the total value of crops and meat harvested by the Service’s agriculture programme was valued at $40,901,805, based on average market prices. Elliot noted that this level of output covered 25.3% of the total cost allotted to inmates’ dietary needs during that period.
Presently, inmates at all correctional institutions, except for Camp Street Prison, are engaged in agricultural production. The Service is putting strategies in place to increase the quantity of output from farming activities, and management continues to collaborate with specialist agencies to improve farming operations and yields.
This year, the Service’s agriculture sector received a budgetary allocation of $20M. The GPS Director is adamant that the agriculture programme remains a sustainable and cost-saving venture for the Service, with more room for growth and development in the coming years.
