NAREI facilities agricultural training to prison inmates
Under the ‘Grow More’ initiative, several officers, and inmates from the Lusignan, Mazaruni, New Amsterdam and Timehri Prisons have completed training with the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI), on nursery management, vermiculture, and seedling production.
The capacity-building exercises saw participants being educated on organic practices and eliminating the use of chemicals to produce healthier food. The training was conducted with the aim of emphasizing the importance of returning nutrients to the soil through composting, thereby promoting sustainable agricultural practices within the prison facility.
Some of the Inmates and officers during the training
Director of Prisons, Nicklon Elliot said that the training programmes are part of the Guyana Prison Services’ aim to continuously promote self-sufficiency. Moreover, these initiatives indicate the service’s commitment to the rehabilitation of inmates through the development of personal and practical skills.
Chairman of the Prison Service Agriculture Development Board, Brian Sears said the Board of Directors is working assiduously to ensure that the GPS agricultural developmental plans and activities are in keeping with the mandate given by the Home Affairs Minister, Robeson Benn.
“This is to obtain self-sufficiency in its agricultural production and to educate inmates and equip them with life skills that will ensure their gainful employment or that they can themselves become successful business owners or farmers upon release”, Sears pointed out.
Sears also indicated that the agriculture department is looking to team up with NAREI for more theoretical and practical training for officers and inmates.
During a telephone interview with this publication on Thursday, the Public Relations Officer for the GPS, Rajiv Bisnauth shared that once an inmate indicates their interest in the program, they are given the opportunity to participate.
He further explained that the produce harvested from the various farms is used to cook meals in prisons across the country.
He noted too that the programme which is being run by the Agricultural Board of the GPS has seen significant support from Food for the Poor which previously donated several pieces of tools.
Through the program, inmates plant a variety of crops and vegetables such as cabbage, ochroes, egg plants, pineapple and many other crops.
