100 Tabac farmers thank PM, PP Govt

…can now drive up to their gardens

FARMERS of Tabac in Tabaquite are quite grateful for all that have been done for them, since the People’ Partnership (PP) Government took office in 2010.

The farmers have moved three steps ahead with transportation while farming in the area.

The farmers first used a bison named “Blackie” for transporting their crops through the dirt road.
They then moved up to using a farmal and trailer.

Under the PP Government, the roadway to the farms was paved, so the farmers can now drive their vehicles straight to their gardens.

Some 100 farmers plant 250 acres of land that belongs to the State.

Many villagers get employment on the farm.

The roadway through the farm was paved and the Tabac River was dredged.

The Lezama brothers, who occupy eight acres of land, are all happy and excited about the work their MP Dr. Suruj Rambachan has done.

They plant sweet peppers, pumpkin, tomatoes, cabbage and cauliflower.

Gaston Ali said he began working the land at the tender age of seven, while he was still in primary school.

He said he used to work in the farm on evenings after school, on weekends and during holidays.

“I used to work and save my money to buy what I needed,” he said.

Ali said he went outside to do other jobs, but ended right back on the land because of his passion for it.
“I love the land,” he said.

Rhondel Lezama, the assistant secretary of the Tabac Farmer’s Association, said they had to work real hard toting their produce before.

“It was very tough,” he said.

He said it was hard even with the trailer and farmal, since they had to walk long distances along a dirt road to load their crops.

Martin Badal has worked on the land since the days when the bison was used for transport.
He said it was a mud road.

Martin, a payroll accountant, said he was employed full time, but is working part-time farming.
He is involved in agriculture as a hobby.

Martin began farming when Blackie was used to transport the crops.

Blackie served the farmers faithfully for 22 years.

After Blackie died, the farmers began using the trailer and farmal.

Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Tabac Farmers’ Association Kerry Badal said:“It was not until the PP Government took office it in 2010 that we got help.

“Dr. Rambachan came and looked at our situation and he sent officials to look at the project.
“The project was done according to our requests,” Badal said.

He said the farmers were quite content with what they got, especially since 80 percent of the flooding has been eliminated due to the dredging of the river.

Badal said they are now looking for electricity in the area, which, he explained will not be difficult, since they can get connection from the nearby Nariva Water Treatment Plant.

Badal said with electricity in the area, they will be able to produce at a cheaper cost.

He said they will also be able to set up security cameras, where they can monitor their fields form the comfort of their homes.

The farmers also supply their own seedlings.

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