Govt to launch agriculture project for youths, women in South Pakaraima
Residents at the meeting on Saturday
President Dr Irfaan Ali on Saturday told residents of villages in the South Pakaraima, Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) that the Government will launch a special agriculture project for youths and women in that part of the region.
The Head of State made this announcement while meeting with residents of South Pakaraima at Karasabai.
The President explained that the project will be done in consultation with the villagers. “In every community, jointly with your resources and some of ours, I want us to see how we can launch an agricultural project that is sustainable but must be led by young people and women as far as possible.”
President Ali also took note of the issues affecting specific villages with regard to infrastructure, healthcare, water and other issues.
The tractors that were handed over to the various communities
He added that he has instructed Local Government and Regional Development Minister Nigel Dharamlall to look at the options where the road can be raised and upgraded in phases.
Dr Ali also handed over seven tractors and two All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) to the communities.
The meeting also saw the presence of Regional Chairman Bryan Allicock; National Security Advisor, Captain Gerry Gouveia; Police Commissioner Clifton Hicken; GO-Invest Head, Dr Peter Ramsaroop, and other Government officials.
The ICT hub in Karasabai
In the latter part of 2022, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government enacted a policy to ensure that local women and youth have a percentage of ownership in all new agricultural investments, as part of its efforts to make agriculture more sustainable.
“In Guyana, for example, we have now made a policy that all the new investment in agriculture, driven by technology, would have a percentage owned by women and youth. So, in all investments we’re making in livestock, 35 per cent of those farms must be owned by women and 30 per cent of those farms must be owned by youth,” he said.
“This is how we’re going to ensure sustainability. If we’re not in a position to encourage the next generation, young people, to be part of agriculture and see it as something exciting, innovative, and challenging, that utilises technology, then we will not be able to create a sustainable framework for the production of food and the sustainability and resilience of the agriculture sector.”
According to Ali, the Government must protect the vulnerable.
