Community Service Officers (CSOs) in Region Nine recently completed a two-day shade house technology training aimed at enhancing agricultural production in the region. Participants represented several areas including Deep South Rupununi, South Central Rupununi, South Pakaraimas, Central Pakaraima, and North Pakaraima.
Organized by the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI), the training combines practical and theoretical components. The sessions, which commenced on Friday last, were hosted at the Ariwa Village Benab in St. Ignatius under the Youth Entrepreneurial and Apprenticeship Programme (YEAP). This initiative, spearheaded by President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, focuses on empowering youth to contribute to the country’s agricultural output.
“So, all the shade houses that we are setting up in your community, we expect you to manage them upon completion of this training. It will help you to make money for yourself in addition to the stipend that we are paying you,” stated Ryan Toolsiram, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs, during the opening ceremony. He highlighted the ministry’s efforts to build CSOs’ capacity and entrepreneurial skills.
The ministry plans to establish 23 shade houses and ensure markets are available through school dormitories and the hot meal programme. Toolsiram further announced plans for 2025 to allocate funds supporting CSO business ventures, including the establishment of four modern mechanical workshops in Region Nine.
“The main thing is food security, and our government is concentrating on that specific practice in this region. The president told us that we must be the leading region to ensure that food security is achieved,” said Regional Chairman Brian Allicock.
NAREI’s Hinterland Coordinator, Aaron Ramroop, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to modernizing agriculture in remote areas, aligning with CARICOM’s goal to reduce its food import bill by 25% by 2025.
