The government is looking to deploy automatic weather stations around the country and has budgeted $10.5M to this end but says this falls way short of what is required to meet the existing needs.
This was revealed by Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud yesterday as consideration of the Estimates of the 2011 National Budget began in the National Assembly. Referring to the Estimates, PNCR-1G parliamentarian Mervyn Williams asked what was the single largest proposed purchase under the heading “field material and supplies” and the associated cost.
In answering Persaud said the heading covered a number of automatic rain gauges as well as the installation of a number of weather stations. He added that this is being done in the context of the Low Carbon Development Strategy and work is being done with the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC) on establishing the network.
“The cost of an automatic weather station coming out of the UK is within the vicinity of $2M and that is on the low side. It’s a very expensive device… They’re (CCCCC) also assisting us in expanding that frame, particularly too within our hydropower basin and this is also linked to support what is taking place in terms of rainfall data because we also need to plan and be aware of what is taking place hydrologically as we move to embark on hydproproject development and this is an important role that the Hydromet Services will have to undertake,” the minister explained
Williams queried how many systems would be purchased and where they would be installed to which Persaud said they were still in discussions with the Centre and the number to be purchased will be based on their feedback and contributions.
Persaud added that the areas to be targeted will be those they consider “hydrological basins in the context of hydropower” as well as remote areas and hinterland communities. “Take for instance our efforts to develop the intermediate savannahs… investors want rain data too because crops and other developments require certain amounts of rainfall. So, it also depends on how much help we can get and based on our allocation that will inform how many… we purchase.”
Persaud said close to 30 units are needed but the allocation would only allow a limited number of the systems to be purchased at this time.
Williams also questioned the minister about the money going to the Hope Relief Canal and its projected completion date.
“The amount expended so far last year was about $614M and the estimate of the cost of the canal and the accompanying structures is $3B and if we look at the allocation this year, we’re looking at an allocation of $1.2B in terms of the expenditure programme for 2011 and the duration of this project was intended to be close to 18 months so we see this project also going over into 2012,” Persaud noted.
However, Williams questioned whether a study had been done to weigh the cost effectiveness of the canal as against the completion of the final phase of the MMA/ADA project. To this, Persaud responded that they were two different activities with different objectives. He noted that the Hope Canal was intended to relieve the pressure of the heavy rains on the East Demerara Water Conservancy Dam which threatened farms on the East Coast Demerara and residential areas as far as Georgetown.
The MMA/ADA II project, he said, was intended to enhance drainage and irrigation and open new farmlands within the Mahaica/Mahaicony area. To this, Williams, queried where the fund for this latter project would come from.
“The government, over the last several years, has made a number of approaches to the Japanese as well as to other donor partners in terms of submitting this project which estimated cost is close to US$50M. We were hoping under the Japanese Cool Earth (50) project we would have seen some movement in this regard. This project continues to be one the government will aggressively pursue in terms of attracting resources,” Persaud responded.
He added that the project was also important from the perspective of climate change adaptation and it would be a front burner issue for the administration.
On the bio-energy sector, Williams asked which source the government would be pursuing as a priority to which Persaud responded ethanol and bio-diesel from palm oil, respectively.
He added that they had ruled out the use of physic nut, a high source of oil, because it is an “invasive species” and not enough work has been done locally to determine its effects on other crops.
However, Williams countered that a study had been done on the physic nut project and it was determined that some areas in Region 10 had the best soil type for the planting of the nuts. “Could the Honourable Minister say whether it is on account of the geographic location identified as best suited that the government has abandoned this physic nut plantation project?” Williams asked.
In his response, Persaud said he considered the question to be “out of place” and reiterated that the study on the invasiveness of the physic nut had been done by an international organization within the UN and they had advised a number of countries to proceed cautiously. “And it is not that the government will be engaging in these investments, it is private investors who we’re seeking to develop the agro-energy sector but it is our responsibility too as a government also to heed the advice of our scientists locally and internationally,” he added.
The consideration of the Estimates continues today. (Kwesi Isles)
