Works on the $1.2 billion contracts awarded last April have started, and are moving steadily apace, Agriculture Sector Development Unit (ASDU) Senior Civil Engineer Mr. Fredrick Flatts said.

The multi-million dollar investments entailed rehabilitation of drainage control structures and farm-to-market roads in Regions Three (West Demerara/ Essequibo Islands), Four (Demerara/Mahaica) and Six (East Berbice/Corentyne).

These projects are being undertaken at Vergenoegen/Bonasika, Den Amstel/Fellowship and Vreed-en-Hoop/ La Jalousie in Region Three; Golden Grove/Victoria in Region Four; and Crabwood Creek in Region Six.

According to Flatts, work on the Vergenoegen/Bonasika, Den Amstel/Fellowship project is some 15 per cent complete; Vreed-en-Hoop/ La Jalousie 10 per cent; Golden Grove/Victoria 20 per cent; and Crabwood Creek five per cent.

The Vergenoegen/Bonasika, Den Amstel/Fellowship initiative has 20 months duration, Crabwood Creek 15 months, and the Vreed-en-Hoop/ La Jalousie and Golden Grove/Victoria projects one year each.

The contracts involve the installation of 12 main head regulators, 30 secondary head regulators, 37 secondary check structures, 13 secondary tail regulators, 17 secondary culverts, one main tail regulator, 12 main outfall sluices, two secondary inverted siphons, 80 bridges and 112 kilometers of farm-to-market roads.

These works are expected to increase farmers’ productivity as well as their economic status.

They are being supervised by BK International and Roopan Ramotar Investments, and monitored by project staff as well as internal and external supervisors.

Other D&I works being pursued are the rehabilitation of pump stations in Regions Four and Six, rehabilitation of D&I control structures and access roads in Canals Number One and Two Polder, and D&I systems at Cane Grove, Black Bush Polder and Number 52-74 Villages in Corentyne, Berbice.

Altogether, these undertakings seek to raise rural income of farmers on the coastal plain through increasing efficiency of agricultural production.

Specifically, the aim is to rehabilitate D&I structures, organise farmers to operate and maintain these structures, and support rice research and agriculture diversification.