Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud inspected works on the $150M three-door sluice being built on the right bank of the Mahaicony River that is expected to relieve pressure on the Mahaicony Creek.
“We are creating a totally new separate partial canal that will run on the right bank of the Mahaicony creek,” Persaud said on Wednesday, adding that a new canal will be dug shortly to channel water into the Mahaicony creek.
According to a Government Information Agency press release Persaud said that the structure will also curb overtopping from the Mahaicony Creek and bring relief to farmers. The structure is expected to be completed in August.
Persaud said that the initiative is timely since it will also relieve pressure on the vulnerable Mahaica Creek while allowing more land to be cultivated.
In addition to rice, the ministry is also encouraging farmers to embark on agricultural diversification which targets an increase in the export of non-traditional agricultural commodities.
