The Agriculture Ministry continues to place major emphasis on the development of the agriculture sector by channelling a significant amount of resources to ensure its viability.
In line with this plan, Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud and a team of agriculture and regional officials recently visited and interacted with residents and farmers of Coomacka Mines, upper Demerara River, Region Ten.
The interactive session at the area’s Community Centre gave residents an opportunity to make recommendation on matters affecting their livelihood. They were also told that they were being targeted for social and economic development since agriculture is an important link in maintaining food security.
Given the many issues farmers face in relation to drainage and irrigation, Minister Persaud indicated that although Region Ten is not part of the official NDIA area, efforts are being made to lend support, since it is the administration’s intention to encourage agriculture as a new activity within the area.
Government is also looking to develop other forms of income to support development, and as such, the involvement in aquaculture and the resuscitation of the leather craft industry were also brought to the fore.
Minister Persaud also cautioned that the state’s resources are limited and as such, they should temper their expectations as to how much can be done.
The issue of excavating the silted-up creek was addressed as the Minister indicated that two permanent excavators and a pontoon will be deployed to the area to carry out excavation works.
This intervention was also undertaken in the Kara Kara Creek, which saw farmers benefitting from enhanced drainage works.
The excavator has commenced work in the area and, according to the Minister, residents have a part to play by monitoring work to ensure that it is embarked upon properly, since they are the immediate beneficiaries.
While emphasising the need for improved drainage and irrigation, Minister Persaud said that the area is complicated since it is mined-out. However, the Ministry of Agriculture’s National Drainage and Irrigation Authority, in a collaborative effort with the Region and BOSAI, is working to bring relief on a long-term basis. In fulfilling a request made to farmers, a $5M culvert will also be constructed. The contract is in the tendering process.
On the issue of having their lands regularised, he said that representatives of the Lands and Surveys Commission and the Linmine Secretariat are currently in discussions as to how this matter will be resolved.
Meanwhile, Chief Executive Officer, NDIA, Lionel Wordsworth, said that the authority and the region are working hand-in-hand to have improved drainage in the area.
“We visited the area when we first had the flooding, and we looked at some options as how we can improve the drainage.”
(GINA)