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Attorney General Anil Nandlall on Saturday signalled his government’s intention to scrap a $200 Million model farm located at Fort Wellington Region 5.
The land where the farm is was previously used by farmers for planting cash crops. Former Regional Executives Officer, Ovid Morrison had sought to convert the land into the model farm.
On Saturday, Nandall visited the farm and assured farmers that they will soon resume planting on the land.
The idea of the model farm was to address land selection, principles of crop rotation, crop cultivation and waste consolidation. The farmers were told to remove from the land so that they can be beneficiaries of the newly constructed model farm
However, over the years, nothing interesting was done to enhance the farm and it has since been taken over by heavy vegetation and overgrowth.
According to Regional Chairman, Vickchand Ramphal, there are no records to prove that produce were cultivated from the said farm.
Nandlall, in his brief address to the farmers noted that work is underway by the government to have the lands in order so that each farmer will be able to regain their lands.
“We have instructed the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) to put you back on the land but it will have to be done in a processed way. Each of you will be able to get back your lands, maybe not the identical one but you will have a land within this vicinity.”
Nandlall urged the farmers who have outstanding rates fee, to pay as early as possible since the government is hoping to reverse all increased rates they previously had to pay.
“Every one of you who were here before and were removed you will get back a plot of land so that you can plant again,” he assured the farmers.
He further stated that Guyana will remain an agriculture base while the revenues from the new oil and gas sector will be used to improve agriculture in the country and allow farmers to progress from one stage to another.
“We want to move to plantation agriculture, so when you plant tomatoes, you plant a plantation of tomatoes”, Nandlall told the farmers.
