– Agriculture Minister tells Mibicuri farmers
Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud, during a visit to Region 6 yesterday met with rice farmers at the Mibicuri community centre ground to discuss issues affecting them and to highlight some of Government’s plans for the area during 2010.

The meeting commenced with an update on the situation at the Mibicuri pump station concerning irrigation needs. It was then followed by concerns that are currently affecting farmers in the area and which the Agriculture Minister addressed.

Some of the issues related to irresponsible cattle rearing, cleaning and clearing of rice fields, voucher distributions, seeds and fertilisers and drainage to farm lands.

Minister Persaud urged farmers to practice water conservation especially during the El Nino situation which is likely to prevail until March.

He stressed that farmers should desist from tampering with structures and cutting dams as this it is an offence.

Minister Persaud 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,” the Minister noted.
Farmers were also urged to cooperate and to protect their dam.
Minister Persaud noted that the water pumped by the Mibicuri pump station will have to be regulated to ensure that farmers benefit from an 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,” the Agriculture Minister noted.

Minister Persaud disclosed that within two weeks, a massive $500M rehabilitation plan will commence in the Black Bush Polder scheme.

He said that the Ministry will not be tendering the projects to private contractors, but will be doing the work to ensure that projects commence in a timely manner.

The Minister also noted that as part of the package under the rehabilitation programme, another drainage structure will be built to ensure effective drainage.

He 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.

This was in response to queries by some farmers as to whether to dig the front or backland areas first.

“Another pump will also be installed in the Black Bush Polder area under the massive rehabilitation programme for the area,” the Minister said.

He noted 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,” Minister Persaud said.

Voucher distribution
Minister Persaud, while addressing the issue, said that $200M will be spent for the purchase of fertiliser to assist rice farmers.

He noted that the distribution exercise was delayed as many farmers were not being honest.

He told the farmers that Government has issued monies to the Guyana Rice Development Board and the Rice Producers Association to verify the process. This is to ensure that affected farmers benefit.
Minister Persaud indicated that anyone found guilty of will face the consequences.