In excess of 15,000 gallons of fuel have been distributed by the Mahaica/ Mahaicony/Abary-Agricultural Development Authority (MMA-ADA) to farmers to pump water out of their cultivation and to undertake emergency works, the Ministry of Agriculture said in a press release yesterday.
In addition to the fuel, the MMA/ADA has already installed 50 HDPE tubes to assist with drainage, and has also undertaken the rental of machines to help farmers with empoldering their land.
The release said further that the GRDB has also identified critical dams that are in need of grading to enable farmers to transport their paddy from the fields to the mill. The GRDB has contracted the Rice Producers Association to execute rehabilitation of priority dams. And the RPA in conjunction with the regional officials has already started work in Regions Three, Five and Two.
The GRDB has concluded an assessment and verification of the acreage of rice crop losses with the intention of supporting farmers with seed paddy and fertilizer during the next crop.
In the meantime, voucher distribution has begun and is ongoing in Regions Two, Three, Four, Five and Six. According to the release, up to 178 farmers have already received vouchers at a total cost of $15,154,000.
The Ministry of Agriculture through the Guyana Livestock Develop-ment Authority (GLDA) has been providing veterinary treatment to thousands of animals affected by the recent flooding along the coast and in Region Ten. With the water level receding in some of the areas, feed supplements such as bran, grass, straw and molasses are being distributed to farmers in Regions Three and Four and in the Region Five area which was most affected. According to the release, over 10,000 gallons of molasses have been distributed so far.
The release also stated that the replacement of chicks and ducklings has commenced with 1,180 chicks and 1,843 ducklings distributed so far.
Moreover, as the water recedes from the fields, farmers are being given planting materials and chemicals to begin the replanting process and over 2,500 of them have received assistance, the release added.
