ADF- springboard for further development of Amerindian communities

GINA feature

Amerindian development is a continuing process, one that is moving quietly and progressively towards a path of enhancement for the descendants of Guyana’s first people.

Measures and initiatives are constantly being implemented, with the aims of removing Amerindians from poverty and ensuring they are given the same opportunities for personal development as other Guyanese are afforded under this Administration.

Aranaputa Peanut Farm, Region 9

Under funding for Amerindian projects are those targeted towards the protection of Indigenous land rights and the creation of livelihood opportunities. The funding for these projects is among the major components of the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS).

Amerindian Development Fund (ADF)
The ADF will provide funds to all Amerindian communities to implement the projects that they identify as priorities for their social and economic development.

Minister of Amerindian Affairs Pauline Sukhai observed that while it may seem long before the funds are dispersed there is a reason. She explained that there are certain steps to follow and mechanisms to establish. In formulating the projects, called Community Development Plans (CDPs), it must be ensured that they are workable whilst creating the framework. Funds from the ADF will be dispersed to Amerindian villages or communities for their implementation.

Minister of Finance Dr. Ashni Singh, Minister of Amerindian Affairs Pauline Sukhai and United Nations Resident Representative Khadija Musa signing off on the disbursement of the GRIF to the Amerindian Development Fund

Minister Sukhai observed that since signing the agreement with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for the release of the Norway funds, “Government has moved forward and we have advertised for the position of an international consultant, project coordinators and facilitators. Interviews for those positions have been completed and the project consultant, project facilitator and coordinator have been identified,” she said.

Mechanisms to address the execution of the projects will be developed as soon as these individuals are in place. “We are moving closer to the disbursement of monies to invest in the Community Development Plans and they are 27 communities that will benefit in the first instance. We expect that as soon as the first 27 which are supposed to be the pilot run of this programme is disbursed it will give leverage to the disbursement to the communities that have already submitted projects to be funded under the Community Development Fund Programme,” Minister Sukhai explained.

Pilot projects

The pilot projects identified include six non-farming, six farming, four poultry and 3 aqua farming projects.

Poultry rearing is proposed for  Barabina, Kariako and Yarakita; a village shop in Baramita; cash crop farming in Hobodeia and Manawarin and fish ponds in Kamwatta and Three Brothers, all located in Region One (Barima/Waini)

In Region Two, there are plans for cash crop farming in Bethany and a Guest House at Santa Mission while a tourist lodge is planned for St. Cuthbert’s Mission in Region Four.

Beautiful hinterland area in Region Eight suitable for tourism venture

At Moraikobai in Region Five there are plans for a multi-purpose centre while rice-cultivation is slated for Orealla in Region Six and a peanut farm for Karrau in Region Seven.

Region Eight will also see cash crop farming at Itabac while cattle rearing will take place at Kamana and Kurukubaru. This region will also focus on poultry rearing at Micobie and a tourism project is to be established at Monkey Mountain.

Seven projects are slated for Region Nine and include a fish pond project at Annai and cattle rearing at Bashaizon. Cash crop farming will be done at Masara and Parikwarunau, and Rupunau. Rupertee will focus on planting cassava

In Hururu, Region Ten, a guest house will be set up.

Progress ongoing

During 2012, a total of 10 tractors were delivered to communities to be used, not mainly for transportation of people, but assisting in the cultivation of produce, land preparation and transporting of goods and produce from the area.

They can be observed at work during the annual Rupununi Expo, transporting various produce there from the various communities. Additionally, another marketing event in the communities was the recent Rupununi Christmas fair which was initiated by the local villages meeting in Lethem with all of them bringing in produce to be marketed.

A successful village venture

While the subsistence level or concept has grown, Minister Sukhai noted that the challenge of marketing will remain because of the key factor of transporting produce from the remote areas and hinterland villages to compete on the market even in Georgetown.

Many of the villages under the ADF expressed interest in processing their produce which is going to be a very useful approach to add value to their produce. This, the Minister observed, will offer shelf-life and in processing, reduces the bulk quantity in its raw unprocessed form.

While this may provide a better chance of competition, Minister Sukhai said it is a movement forward and, and “We as Government have a commitment to work with these communities in meeting these challenges.”

The school feeding programme also continues to offer a market for farmers within the villages. This market has given rise to a more continuous practice of farming since there is a constant demand for produce to feed more than 150 students daily.

This demand alone absorbs the level of cultivation in the village and also offers linkages to cattle farmers who are rearing livestock for the market opportunity for meat production.

The Fund’s background

The Amerindian Affairs Ministry and the UNDP in August 2012, signed an agreement to pump US$6 million (G$1.2 billion) of the US70M Norway funds into the ADF.

Coming out of the LCDS, which was articulated and promoted by former President Bharrat Jagdeo, the US$6M will be drawn from the Guyana REDD+ Investment Fund (GRIF) which currently has a total of US$70 M received from Norway and managed by the World Bank under the LCDS agreement.

The agreement allows 27 or 15 per cent of 180 community development plans (CDPs) to be rolled into operation in the areas of agriculture, village infrastructure, tourism, manufacturing, village enterprise and transportation.

The UNDP is the implementing partner for the GRIF.

The agreement will see funding to the tune of $1.2B deposited to the ADF through which an initial $360M will be made available for the execution of projects earmarked under the CDPs.