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U.S Embassy Humanitarian Unit hands over Demonstration Farm - Region 7 Farmers to receive training in semi-organic farming techniques.

The U.S. Embassy Humanitarian Assistance Program (HAP) team recently handed over a fully renovated Demonstration Farm to officials in Bartica, Region 7. Work on the facility included construction of a plant nursery, a goat house, a chicken coop and a seed storage building.  The infrastructure was reinforced and the perimeter fence repaired. The farm was completed at a cost of US$10,000 and will provide farmers in Region 7 an opportunity to receive training in semi-organic farming techniques aimed at increasing the quality and yield of their crops.  

Region 7 currently imports a large amount of its food from other regions of Guyana or abroad. The Region 7 Regional Democratic Council (RDC) stated that that the area has fertile agricultural lands and therefore the local population can become self-sufficient in food production. The RDC is attempting to encourage greater agricultural production to:  (1) relieve the strain of high food prices on local consumers and, (2) encourage a more diverse local economy.  The RDC’s goals are:

  1. To produce enough food for its residents, instead of relying on imports, thus lowering the cost of food.
  2. To develop alternative economic sectors to cushion the impact of possible declines in local forestry and mining industries.
  3. To provide legal employment for displaced forestry and mining workers.
  4. To seek income from exporting surplus produce.

Since commercial farming has not been widely practiced in the region for some time, aspiring commercial farmers need guidance and assistance on how to start a farm and find markets for their produce. The Demonstration Farm will provide just this sort of assistance to local agriculturalists.

This project is part of the US Embassy’s goal of promoting the economic prosperity of the Guyanese people by helping Guyana realize its vast agricultural potentials.  HAP is looking into expanding this project to include a Tilapia Fish Farm on the site.