Latest update February 14th, 2025 8:22 AM
Inadequate drainage being addressed with $6.1B budgeted for 2018 – Agri Minister
Even with significant investment in the drainage system, there is still inadequate drainage, pumping and channel capacity that continues to compromise efficiency in the agriculture sector.
This is the view held by Minister of Agriculture, Noel Holder. He said that with increasing unpredictability of the weather and higher rainfall intensities being experienced, the flood risk has increased for vulnerable areas.
“Water management systems are critical in our land of many waters. Our approaches to agricultural expansion and sustainability are, therefore, based on risk reduction and disaster management, revolving around adaptation and mitigation initiatives to prevent and manage floods and droughts,” Noel stated.
He said that the government is committed to this endeavour with an over $6.1 billion allocation in 2018. According to the Minister, increasing drainage coefficients of vulnerable flood prone areas is a central factor in increasing resilience.
He stated that in 2018, construction and rehabilitation of sluices, culverts, conservancy regulators and other drainage and irrigation structure across vulnerable regions will be done. As part of the work plan for 2018, Noel stated that tidal drainage will be supplemented with the commencement of construction for seven fixed pump stations.
The stations will accommodate nine pumps at Nooten Zuil and Hope on the East Coast of Demerara; Mora Point, Mahaicony River; Den Amstel, Hampton Court and Devonshire Castle on the Essequibo Coast; and replacement of a pump at Rose Hall.
There are also plans for the construction of a $400 million sluice at D’Edward, West Coast Berbice. It is expected to improve the drainage of over 5000 acres of agricultural land.
Minister of Agriculture, Noel Holder
According to Noel, the Mahaica/Berbice region is particularly important as it produces 45% of the rice grown in Guyana and is home to most of the nation’s cattle population.
To further address the inadequacies in drainage and irrigation, Noel stated that there are a number of projects being implemented. There is the US$11.9 million Flood Risk Management project to facilitate the construction of pump stations at Lusignan, Vigilance/Buxton and Hope/Enmore.
Other ongoing projects include the US$3.2 million Cunha Canal Rehabilitation project; US$12.8 million Rural Agricultural Infrastructure Development, which will realise improvements in drainage systems in Buxton, Mocha, Triumph and Ithaca.
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