Women and youth from the Beterverwagting/Triumph Community Development Council (CDC) on the East Coast are set to receive training in climate-smart agricultural practices. This initiative aims to improve livelihoods and create income-generating opportunities for the community.
Highlighting the financial potential of the project, Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha noted that a single shade house could generate as much as $400,000 annually.
Speaking during a community outreach at the Beterverwagting Community Centre last Saturday, the minister said, _“We can work along with you. This is one way for you to earn more money and contribute to the productive sector in our country. That is how we can eradicate poverty and supplement peoples’ income…”_
The outreach followed a recent engagement with Vice-President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, during which plans were discussed to support the community’s agricultural development.
As part of the initiative, 20 women and youth will each receive 20 chicks to bolster poultry production. For large-scale farmers, Minister Mustapha pledged to supply planting materials and ensure that the necessary infrastructure is in place to support their efforts.
_“We are looking to increase the yield that we are getting now… It is for you to take up the opportunity that the government is creating for you. We want to make your area productive once again,”_ he emphasized.
This week, a technical team from the Ministry of Agriculture will collaborate with residents to design a tailored agricultural programme to boost productivity in the cultivation area.
Additionally, the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) will undertake infrastructural works on access dams and drainage channels to improve access to farmlands, paving the way for increased crop yields.
