2021 Mid-Year Report: NAREI pumps $602.8M into non-traditional crops cultivation

The National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) has expended some $602.8 million at the end of June this year to further diversify Guyana’s production base and ensure food security.

Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha remains optimistic that his Ministry will continue to accelerate efforts to meet the dietary demands of all Guyanese.
He said following his appointment as Minister, it was discovered that most of the programmes to rural and hinterland communities were halted by the previous Government.
“This significantly affected agricultural development in this country. Since taking office in 2020, we have not only re-started these programmes, but we have also revamped them and introduced new ones to ensure that everyone benefits.”
Already, NAREI has provided technical assistance and knowledge-sharing to hundreds of farmers countrywide.
The 2021 mid-year report showed that designs were given to farmers for the construction of 97 shade houses in all regions. Shade houses were constructed for demonstration purpose at Hosororo, (Region One), Paramakatoi, (Region Eight) and three at Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara.

With the continued push for fruit cultivation, the agency made available hundreds of low-cost seedlings at all NAREI nurseries with 54,915 plants sold for some $13.7 million. During the review period it was discovered that technical support was provided to 16,284 farmers.
Over 1357 farmers from Regions Two, Three, Four, Five, Six and 10 benefitted from training sessions in pest and disease management, climate smart agriculture, good agriculture practices and crop husbandry systems, among others.
Further, it was highlighted that of the targeted 1000 acres of new coconut cultivation for the year, 766 acres were cultivated, bringing the national coconut acreage to 29,802 acres.
The Minister reiterated that Government has given prominence to the coconut industry by allocating $70 million to Hope Coconut Industry Limited to promote expansion, inter-cropping, utilisation of coconut by-products, and increase production and productivity.
According to the report, the construction of the coconut nurseries in Wakenaam, Leguan; Canal No 2, Polder; and No 63 Village, Corentyne, are expected to be completed in the second half of this year.
It said too that “trials for intercropping in the coconut industry commenced on the coastal soil with bora and hot peppers and on the sandy soil with peanuts and red beans, with a view to expanding intercropping cultivation in the coconut fields.”
Accordingly, about 0.7 tonnes of fresh ginger roots were processed and dried at Hosororo and sent to manufacturers to assess the quality. In March, 655 cuttings of black pepper were distributed to the farmers of Regions One and 10 for cultivation.
To date, there are 575 black pepper cuttings at Mon Repos and 3654 at Hosororo. There are 45 nutmeg trees in Hosororo between five farmers, with an expected yield of 1000 nutmeg per tree per crop. In the second half of 2021, about 222 nutmeg seedlings will be planted at the Hosororo demonstration field.
Mustapha said as time progresses there will be a drastic change in the provision of extension support services.