Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha met with farmers and residents of Laluni and surrounding communities along the Soesdyke-Linden Highway, where he outlined several interventions aimed at expanding agricultural production and harnessing the area’s productive potential.
Minister Mustapha described Laluni as an important link in Guyana’s agriculture sector and said issues surrounding access to and allocation of land must be addressed. Responding to concerns raised by residents, he cautioned that the Community Development Council (CDC) should desist from distributing lands if it is currently doing so, noting that land allocation must be handled by the legally authorised agencies, primarily the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (GLSC). Given the number of concerns raised, he committed to organising an outreach with the relevant authority to examine applications from residents and work towards resolving outstanding land matters.
The Minister also said the Ministry will work with farmers to address drainage and irrigation and access to quality planting materials. He instructed the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) to conduct assessments in Laluni and First Creek to determine the works needed and encouraged farmers to identify two or three crops that can be produced on a larger scale and linked to reliable markets.
Minister Mustapha also identified swine and honey production as areas with significant potential for the community, noting that training and beehives can be provided to support expanded honey production. With El Niño conditions presenting additional challenges, he said the Ministry’s agencies have been instructed to work closely with farmers to maintain production and support the continued development of agriculture in the area.
Source: Ministry of Agriculture-Guyana/Facebook
