Orealla tagged as huge booster for agriculture

Guyana Chronicle article, 02 October 2007

http://www.guyanachronicle.com/news.html
Orealla tagged as huge booster for agriculture
By Clifford Stanley

ASSESSING POTENTIAL: Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud, right, with
farmers and officials in Orealla yesterday at the launch of Agriculture
Month 2007. (Photo, courtesy Government Information Agency)

AGRICULTURE Minister Mr. Robert Persaud yesterday launched Agriculture Month
observances from the logging community of Orealla on the Corentyne River in
keeping with the theme: "The right to food from a forestry perspective".
Agriculture Month this year is being observed under the theme: "The right to
food - a reality in Guyana" but the sub-theme "The right to food from a
forestry perspective", was specially chosen for the launch at Orealla as
part of this year's focus on hinterland agriculture and supplementary
activities.
The launch was preceded by field demonstrations staged by the Guyana
Forestry Commission (GFC) on aspects of logging, including directional
felling of a log, the use of the log tracking systems and the conversion of
a felled log into lumber using a chain saw.
A visiting team comprising senior officials in the various agricultural
agencies, regional officials of Region Six (East Berbice/Corentyne) and the
head of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA)
were also taken to farm sites at Orealla, including a pineapple farm, before
the formal programme got under way at noon yesterday.
Persaud told the villagers his ministry had decided to launch Agriculture
Month from that location because of the perceived tremendous potential of
the area for both agricultural production and logging.
He stressed the importance of agriculture, food security and
self-sufficiency in the context of globalisation and said his intention was
to bring them up to date with plans for agriculture in Guyana and to
encourage them to support the plan by taking their productive activities to
a higher level. He assured them of continuous support from the government in
this regard.
The support, he said, would take the form of technology transfer activities
and training and in some instances assistance with equipment which could
make the area more productive.
Many of the officials at yesterday's launch, he said, would be returning to
the area soon to provide them with technological advice and assistance.
These include the National Agricultural Research Centre (NARI) whose
officers would assist with soil tests and other such supportive activities
in the community from time to time.
Commissioner of the Guyana Forestry Commission, Mr. James Singh, praised the
villagers for the cooperation and support for the GFC's mandate with respect
to the forestry resources in Orealla and the neighbouring village of
Siparuta.
Mr. Ignatius Jean of the IICA said he was captivated by the ambience of the
village and urged the residents to make efforts to encourage agro-tourism in
their community.
The visitors were welcomed by Captain of the village, Mr. Lean Devair, and
other speakers included Regional Chairman of Region Six, Mr. Zulfikar
Mustapha and Mr. John Woolford, the Hinterland Coordinator of the Ministry
of Agriculture.
Officials who attended and participated in the launch included Mr. Brian
Greenidge, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, Dr.
Oudho Homenauth of NARI, Mr. Nezam Hussain of the Guyana Marketing
Corporation (GMC) among others.
ENDS