Latest update January 1st, 2025 1:00 AM
Jan 06, 2010 Letters
– Agri Minister tells Mibicuri farmers
A $500M rehabilitation project, to start within two weeks, has been announced for Black Bush Polder and will see the construction of another drainage structure.
This was disclosed on Monday by Minister of Agriculture, Robert Persaud, during a visit to Region 6 to meet with rice farmers at the Mibicuri Community Centre ground to discuss issues affecting them and to highlight some of Government’s plans for the area during 2010.
Some of the issues highlighted related to irresponsible cattle rearing, cleaning and clearing of rice fields, voucher distributions, seeds and fertilizers and drainage to farm lands.
Minister Persaud, while addressing concerns, urged farmers to practice water conservation especially during the El Nino situation which is likely to prevail until March.
He stressed that farmers should desist from tampering with structures and cutting dams as it is an offence.
Minister Persaud noted that the area under cultivation has increased and now the drainage system will have to work overtime to ensure that there is adequate irrigation.
“So I am challenging the Water Users Association and farmers to monitor the situation to ensure that the pumps are not turned off and are in proper working condition,” the Minister noted.
Farmers were also urged to protect their dam.
Minister Persaud noted that Mibicuri pump station will have to regulate water to ensure that farmers benefit from adequate water supply to their farmlands.
“It is Government’s commitment to ensure that agriculture is promoted in Guyana and that all farmers are satisfied,” the Agriculture Minister noted.
Minister Persaud disclosed that within two weeks a massive $500M rehabilitation plan will commence in the Black Bush Polder scheme.
The Ministry will not be tendering the projects to private contractors, but will be doing the work to ensure that projects commence as soon as possible.
Persaud also noted that as part of the package under the rehabilitation programme another drainage structure will be built to ensure effective drainage.
He assured farmers that all canals will be dug in a timely manner but noted that Government will not be doing any work that is not sanctioned by the Ministry’s engineers.
“Another pump will also be installed in the Black Bush Polder area under the massive rehabilitation programme for the area,” the Minister said.
He noted that $250M will also be allocated to cater for extending pastures so that cattle farmers will take better care of their flocks.
“We hope that we will get the support from the cattle farmers. If we want to ensure an enhanced cattle industry, we have to work harder,” Minister Persaud said.
Meanwhile, addressing the issue of a fertilizer voucher program started by government to ease costs of rice farming, said that $200M will be spent for the purchase of fertilizer to assist rice farmers.
He noted that the distribution exercise was delayed due to the fact that many farmers were not being honest.
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