Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud on Monday met with Region Six rice farmers at the Mibicuri community centre ground to discuss issues affecting their livelihoods and to discuss a $500M rehabilitation plan for Black Bush Polder this year.
According to a Government Information Agency press release Persaud first updated farmers about the drainage and irrigation situation at the Mibicuri pump station. The minister told the meeting that the water pumped will have to be regulated 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,” he said. He disclosed that within two weeks a massive $500M rehabilitation plan will start in the Black Bush Polder scheme.
Persaud said the ministry will not be tendering the projects to private contractors, but will be doing the work itself to ensure that projects start in a timely manner. He noted that as part of the rehabilitation programme another drainage structure will be built to ensure effective drainage. He also 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,” he said, adding that $250M will also 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,” the minister said.
Persaud also discussed issues such as irresponsible cattle rearing, cleaning and clearing of rice fields, voucher distributions, seeds and fertilizers and drainage to farm lands. The minister advised farmers to conserve water especially during El Nino 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. Persaud also noted that the area under cultivation has increased, and now the 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,” he said.
Voucher distribution
Under the rehabilitation programme the minister also reiterated that $200M will be spent on fertilizers to assist rice farmers. He noted that the distribution exercise was delayed due to the fact that many farmers were not honest.
The minister told the meeting that government had issued money to the Guyana Rice Development Board and the Rice Producers Associa-tion to verify the process and to ensure that they benefit.
