Latest update April 19th, 2024 12:59 AM
Jun 09, 2019 News
Sharing his conviction that farming is the backbone of Guyana and that there is an urgent need for the establishment of more cooperatives, Region Ten Chairman, Renis Morian, has urged a number of farming groups and communities to form Co-ops.
This was his message, recently, when he held a meeting with farmers of Moblissa and Millie’s Hide Out.
The meeting, which was held in Moblissa, was attended by a number of persons including the Regional Democratic Council Agriculture Representative, Mr. Derrick Collins; Regional Labour Officer; Elise Benjamin-Hall; Region Ten Co-op Officer, Keoma Gray; and Assistant Regional Executive Officer (AREO), Leona Narine.
Regional Chairman Moran, in stressing, the importance of Co-operatives, said that farming is certainly going to provide a significant economic boost to the region. He said that having Co-op societies being establish in both Millie’s Hide Out and Moblissa will add to the massive economic growth envisioned for Region 10.
Pointing to the establishment of the Madena Co-op Society, Morian said, “They got together in 2015. At first, many persons were daunted by what they dubbed a ‘jungle’…In 2016, they started working on it but then in 2017 many persons began doing things on their own.”
By 2018, Morian said that he made a decision for the group to return to its original formation. This, he said, saw deliberate efforts being made to establish a Co-operative, noting that the interest was significant and aggressive.
“It was a lengthy process but I stuck with them, I stayed with them and I assisted them until the process was completed,” he shared.
Morian told the residents that with Co-ops, they will be able to secure increased support and assistance so as to advance their farming activities collectively. He added that as a group, more can be achieved than individually.
“If one person were to go and seek assistance, I can tell you that he or she wouldn’t get the kind of attention and or support needed but as a Co-op more can be achieved,” he said.
AREO Narine said that agriculture is a passion not only for the Regional Chairman but also the Regional Executive Officer, who she said continues to demonstrate this in several of their meetings and interactions with residents.
“Our REO is very passionate about agriculture and while he couldn’t make it today, he is very excited at the initiative of establishing Co-ops and we would like to reiterate the support and endorsement of the RDC Region Ten through the Regional Chairman and our Agriculture Officer Mr. Collins,” she said.
However, AREO Narine made it clear that the most important step is the willingness of residents and farmers to have guidance through the establishment of the Co-op. He stressed that it can only redound to significant development for the communities.
In addressing the residents and farmers, the Region 10 Co-op Officer (Keoma Gray) held a discussion on how a Co-op has to be established with rules and regulations.
She urged all in attendance to recognise that they must be prepared to work together, while making collective sacrifices so as to advance and strengthen their Co-op. She said, too, that of importance is the understanding that Co-ops are democratically run and not just by a few persons who want to take ownership but rather by all involved.
“There are many untold opportunities available through the establishment of a Co-op and one of those is better marketing opportunities for products which will rebound into economic benefits for all involved.
“It’s important to understand that as a Co-op, you can garner more if you were to move forward as an individual,” she stressed.
Meanwhile, the Regional Agricultural Officer reminded residents that with oil expected in 2020, the demand for food would increase significantly.
He told residents that while many persons are seeking other avenues, their focus should be on increasing the food production so that the expected increase of persons can be adequately catered to.
“Let me say this that when ExxonMobil decides that they need to buy their food in bulk, they would seek to do this through the Co-ops as they would rather buy their food in bulk rather than buying from retailers.
“So I urge you to return to the land as farming is certainly going to boost out lives, your lives and the lives of everyone out there,” Collins said.
Meanwhile, even as Gray enlightened the residents about ways that they can go about establishing Co-ops, she reminded them that her office stands ready to lend technical and other support to the Co-op societies. In fact, she foresees an overall massive change for the people of Region 10 once these get on stream.
“In establishing the Co-ops, there are five stages that you go through. It is important to know that among the process involves due diligence. The entire process takes about six to eight weeks as there are a number of requirements and process each that Co-op must go through before they can be fully registered,” she said.
The Co-op Officer reminded that one of the primary rules for the establishment of a Co-op is that it requires seven persons who will act as volunteers of whom one must be named the Chairperson or President.
The Co-op Officer assured residents of her readiness and willingness to lend whatever support is needed even as she advised the more the support, the greater the benefits of Co-op Societies.
Please share this to every Guyanese including your house cats.
Apr 19, 2024
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