The village farm in Parikwarunau, Region Nine, has become a successful and profitable venture, providing numerous employment opportunities for residents. Spanning six acres, the farm was prepared by villagers last year and has since flourished.
The majority of the farmland is dedicated to growing watermelons, with a smaller section allocated to a cassava trial aimed at assessing soil fertility for the crop. This marks the first time cassava is being tested in the area.
Toshao Cyril Anthony highlighted that the farm was established with $5 million in governmental support under the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS). Speaking with the Department of Public Information (DPI), he stated, “We are currently generating income from this project here. We have 1,000 watermelon trees. Our first harvest was last year after we prepared the land, and this is our second harvest.”
Each harvest yields approximately 2,000 watermelons, which take about four months to mature. Sold at $600 per watermelon in Lethem, the farm generates around $600,000 per harvest.
“Currently, we have four residents from the village working on this farm. So, we pay the villagers during the four-month cultivation period at a cost of $40,000 at the end of each month,” Toshao Anthony added. He also noted that the village plants and harvests watermelons once per year.
The next harvest is set to take place within a week and will be marketed at the annual Kanuku Mountains Community Representative Group (KMCRG) Christmas fair in Lethem.
Over the past four years, initiatives such as the Presidential Grant, LCDS, and support from the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs have brought significant improvements to hinterland communities. Programs like these have enhanced livelihoods and promoted sustainable economic growth.
The PPP/C government remains committed to fostering development in Amerindian villages by investing in sustainable economic projects that build resilience and empower communities.
