Agriculture plays major role in reducing poverty – Food For The Poor

Recognising the importance of agriculture in decreasing the level of poverty, Food For The Poor on Wednesday donated agricultural tools to 81 farmers, as Agriculture Month is being observed in Guyana.
Among the items handed over to farmers at the organisation’s Festival City, South Ruimveldt Gardens, Georgetown location were spades, cutlasses, honey extractors, files and even land tillers.
The grave importance that agriculture plays in reducing poverty was pointed out by Senior Project Manager Andrea Benjamin.
According to her, “in terms of reducing poverty, agriculture is very important so Food For The Poor in our mandate to help to alleviate poverty will continue to support the agricultural sector”.
Further, she mentioned how grateful the organization was to be able to assist

farmers. The organisation, Benjamin noted, has been supporting the agricultural sector for a number of years, since it is cognisant of its importance. “We have patterned our support in recognition of diversification hence we are working now to empower the beekeepers in Guyana. We want farmers to start looking at alternative sources of income other than cash crop cultivation,” she added.
The Project Manager disclosed that Food For The Poor was also “looking at mechanisation, equipping farmers with the necessary equipment that they can make farming easier”.
A few of the recipients which included six farmers’ groups from Regions Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) and Four (Demerara Mahaica) noted how helpful the tools would be in lessening their workload.
Rhonda Boyce, a shadehouse farmer in Region Three, said the 10 farmers in that group would be very happy for the tools.
Jermain David, also from Region Three, said he was certain that the equipment would help to alleviate the workload and thanked the organisation for its continuous support.
Meanwhile, Linden Stewart of Region Four noted how happy he was for the donation, especially the honey extractor. According to him, the tool comes in a timely manner as this is the period when honey extraction begins. “Many beekeepers would have been looking to borrow extractors from other beekeepers and having to wait their turn before they can get to extract their honey.”
Grace Williams, also of Region Four, who is part of a women farmers group, on the East Coast of Demerara explained, “We are going back to the land like the President (David Granger) would have advised. Food is important to all of us (and) we have the space, so we are going to work to get that done,”
This year, Agriculture Month is being held under the theme “Shaping Agriculture for a Green Economy”.