Laluni is a picturesque Indigenous farming community in Demerara–Mahaica (Region 4). It is situated behind Kuru-Kururu about 20 km from the Linden-Soesdyke Highway. Laluni’s origin is linked to tobacco cultivation. However, the community pivoted towards cash crops and citrus production since the tobacco company ceased operating in the 1970s. Laluni is home to 630 persons who are the beneficiaries of G$ 24 million under the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) via the country’s jurisdictional sale of forest carbon.
Laluni has 2 important projects that work in tandem to take the community’s agricultural exploits to the next level. These are an economic/infrastructure project and a transportation project. The former was the procurement of an Excavator that accounted for the majority share of the funds (≈ G$ 22.3 million). The latter was the acquisition of a new engine for the community’s canter for ≈ G$ 1.7 million.
The purpose of the excavator is to assist residents in clearing abandoned farmland for cultivation, earning rental income for the Community Development Council (CDC), and building community roads etc. The functional canter mainly helps residents to transport their farm produce to the markets
“We were finding it hard to prepare our farmlands manually. Sometimes before you finish preparing the land, you have to start over. Now we have the LCDS excavator that makes the job easy and quick. I can plant many different crops and take them to the market without any hassle because the carbon credits also fix the canter and roads. I am earning a much better income because of projects” – Ms Savitri Bishundat, Farmer for 40+ years
“The LCDS excavator is doing a lot of excellent work for Laluni’s agriculture like digging drains/canals to prevent flooding and ponds to help address droughts. Personally, it is easier and more affordable for me to plant crops. I also used the machine to do the first fish farm in the community that sets an example for everyone else in Laluni to supply new commodities to the market” – Mr Ravindranath Boodie, pioneering Agriculturalist
Mr Julian Mohabir is Laluni’s energetic Chairperson who is delighted by the LCDS carbon credit programme and Laluni’s resultant development. Mr Mohabir shared that the CDC charges users a relatively low hourly fee to rent the excavator which offsets the costs for fuel, maintenance, and an operator. This arrangement significantly subsided the cost of farming which skyrocketed productivity and production in Laluni.
Moreover, Laluni generated in excess of G$ 1.2 million in profit from 4 months of the excavator’s operation. The CDC reinvests these proceeds into the community through several social/human service ventures. Some of these are as follows: cash grants for the ill; solar lights, a gas stove, and windows for the school; and water supply systems for households.
Laluni is considering building a guesthouse and resort, and upgrading its community ground with floodlights, bleachers, and a kitchen with its upcoming carbon credit finance for 2024.
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