Linden, Kwakwani to benefit from

The communities of Linden and Kwakwani in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) may soon benefit from the setting up of cottage industries, to aid in the support of local farmers and the “buy local” initiative.

Deputy Director of Community Development Councils (CDCs) and Regional Councillor, Sandra Adams recently highlighted the initiative and urged members of the Regional Agriculture Committee to encourage farmers in the said communities.

Farmers have recently formed themselves into various farming CDCs in areas such as Dalawala, West Watooka, South Amelia’s Ward and Moblissa. Adams said the cottage industries would see the utilisation of various cash crops and poultry products, which will be packaged to make it easier for consumers and to encourage members of the community to support their own.

“I want to encourage the Agriculture Committee to push the farmers since I’m aware of some cottage industries that we are looking to set up; where people will take those produce and we can attempt for it to be all local. You can buy from the farmers right here – cut up the vegetables, peel the provision and package them to go to the market…Women like me who are working and want to cook when you get home, you can go and pick up something that is already cut up, already peeled, already seasoned, go home and put your additives to it and make an easy job. So those are cottage industries that we are working on,” she said.

She added that two industries of such nature would be set up in Linden and another at Kwakwani (Upper Berbice).

“We need to push the farmers because we are saying to them that the vegetables and whatever must be bought locally, so as to stimulate the economy,” Adams noted. (Utamu Belle)