The regional administration of Region One (Barima-Waini), with intent to develop its agricultural sector, is encouraging its residents to increase their cash crop production for this year.
However, with the lack of markets for residents to sell their produce, there is a hindrance in this transition.
Mayor of Mabaruma, Henry Smith
Region One Mayor Henry Smith, in a recent interview with the Department of Public Information (DPI), related that there is the need for a feasibility study to be conducted to determine the types of crops that are suitable for residents to produce; and moreover, there is need for markets for the distribution of the crops once they are harvested.
Smith said the people of Region One are willing to plant cash crops, but they are concerned about where they would be able to sell their goods.
“The people within the region are not lazy, but what (has) caused them to lose interest is the fact that persons would encourage them to grow more cash crops, (but) when it (is) time to reap the crops, there (usually is) no market to sell the produce. This is one of the factors that affected the establishment of an agricultural market in the region,” he explained.
The main economic activity for Region One over the years has been logging and gold mining. In some areas, the alluvial soil is used to plant coffee, ground provisions and nuts. But with the recent economic decline in those products, the regional administration has decided to shift to something that the residents can implement to survive.
The mayor noted that the region is trying to expand its agricultural sector and be more prominent in that field. He is certain that Barima-Waini can be successful in this new venture if there is the availability of markets, which the administration is currently seeking.
