7,000 more farmers to feed nation

MINISTER in the Ministry of Finance, Senator Christine Sahadeo on Thursday disclosed that 7,000 new farmers would soon be producing food to help feed the nation. She made the remark while addressing the sixth graduation function in the retraining and retooling exercise for displaced sugar workers involved in the restructuring of the sugar industry undertaken by Government in 2003. Sahadeo said the Government was committed to support this major thrust in ensuring that all who were involved in the sugar industry prior to the closure of Caroni (1975) Ltd be trained and more adequately prepared to meet the challenges of the technologically-oriented workplace.

The graduation function took place at Centre Pointe Mall Auditorium on Ramsaran Street, Chaguanas, with the cultural highlight of proceedings being pan music by the  Upper Guaico RC Ensemble, under the leadership of Wayne Johnson. The ensemble included both English and Indian tunes. Sahadeo explained that as farmers produced more food, other Government agencies would help them in the marketing process, including Namdevco, whose president Wendy Lee Yuen was present and gave the gathering some guidelines as to which area of farming to concentrate on, based on demand in the local and international market.

Sahadeo told the gathering that lands would soon be distributed for housing and agriculture and “you should utilise the land in the most optimal manner to bring credit to you and your family.” She said that Government “had promised to distribute lands to you and this is exactly what we are doing.” Sahadeo listed areas where courses were given in welding, occupational safety and health, small engine repairs, aqua-culture, cocoa and coffee production, legume production, rabbit rearing, pepper, herbs and spices and agri-business management.