Sharma Solomon
Region 10 Chairman Sharma Solomon met with various agriculture stakeholders from across the region on Monday as a follow-up to a previous meeting held two weeks ago, aimed at advancing economic development in the region.
The series of engagements was born out of Solomon’s and Linden Interim-Management Committee (IMC) Chairman Orrin Gordon’s recent trip to China. Monday’s meeting sought to provide yet another platform for stakeholders involved in farming and other forms of agriculture, to make suggestions and recommendations on advancements in this regard.
Solomon indicated that there are currently expressions of interest which were put forward by the Chinese government for agriculture production and development within Region 10, and recommendations surrounding these expressions of interest were welcomed at Monday’s meeting. These recommendations, he noted, will next week be presented to a wider-cross section of stakeholders to decide whether the proposed investments by China should be welcomed.
The regional chairman further explained that the issue of land ownership by farmers in Linden and other areas across Region 10 was also discussed, since most farmers are not in possession of titles for the lands they utilise, while he noted that the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) will be seeking to address the issue and have it settled within three months.
Frustration
Farmers, he noted, vented their frustration over this issue, while he said the recommendation was made to encourage organised farming, along with marketing cooperatives, which will perform the duty of ensuring that all farmers operate under a more organised scenario.
Another recommendation which was made, Solomon disclosed, was for the Chinese government to simply be provided with the land to conduct farming. All these recommendations, among others are expected to be presented and assessed at another stakeholder consultation to be held at the Egbert Benjamin Centre and Conference Hall. They are expected to also influence how the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) will perform its duty in terms of advancing agriculture, Solomon said.
