However, much of the limelight has been on the contributions of the traditional sub-sectors, rice and sugar, with little attention being paid to the contribution of other crops.

Even less is known of the support given to the small producers whose combined contributions total millions in dollars saved. The potential of these small agricultural workers, most of them in rural communities, is so important that the Government with the support of regional and international organisations has developed a special programme to assist with their growth and development. The initial programme will concentrate in Regions Two (Pomeroon/Supenaam) and Three (Essequibo Islands/West Demerara)

The aim of the programme is not only to increase agriculture production in the Regions, but also to provide opportunities for disadvantaged and vulnerable groups such as women, the landless and youths.

The Poor Rural Communities Support Services Project is a US$16M project jointly funded by the Government, the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development.

As outlined in the project document, the general objective of the project is to “provide efficient and sustainable support services to rural communities in Regions Two and Three with a particular focus on poor rural households, Amerindian communities and households headed by women.”

The document lists six specific objectives, which the project hopes to achieve:

• Foster small farmers’ organisations and production based rural community groups to enhance their self-reliance

• Facilitate the provision of efficient and sustainable technical support services, including training, extension and applied research

• Rehabilitate basic drainage and irrigation in eligible communities

• Provide credit facilities to small farmers and small rural entrepreneurs

• Provide financial resources, in the form of grant funds, for the promotion and execution of community development initiatives

• Strengthen both public sector and private suppliers of rural support services in order to enhance their capacity for providing such services.

The project provides two main components, Technical Support Services and Community Initiatives. Beneficiaries must meet two criteria:

• They do not own or operate more than ten acres (four hectares) of land

• Their household income does not exceed US$2,600 per year.
Small scale rice farmers and farmers involved in the production of non-

traditional crops such as ground provisions, fruits and vegetables are targeted. The project also stipulates that 30 per cent of the beneficiaries should be women.

The first component addresses an integrated package of technical services that include social organisational training, agricultural extension and specialised technical services.

In its second component the project provides non-reimbursable financial assistance to farmers' organisations and rural community groups, which are involved in projects that will remove production constraints.

A condition of funding under this component is that communities must agree to maintain the facilities once the sub-project is completed.

Sub-projects can include works to rehabilitate drainage and irrigation systems and agriculture-related infrastructure in the two Regions. Typical works under this direction would include the re-alignment and cleaning of irrigation drains and canals, and repairs to access roads and bridges.

Before a sub-project can commence, farmers have to organise themselves into Water Users Associations (WUAs) and at the completion of works these groups will assume responsibility for the management and maintenance of the system.

In 2002, credit facilities were provided to 871 persons in the Regions involved to assist them in their productive activities.