… breeding animals, equipment handed over
MINISTER of Agriculture, Robert Persaud, Saturday presented several pigs and spray cans to five farmers in Bare Root, East Coast Demerara.
The entire community is also benefiting from an excavation exercise, with the waterways being cleared. The farmers previously received farming items, including tools, planting materials and seeds. These requests were previously made during interactions between residents and Agriculture Ministry officials.
With regard to drainage and irrigation, Minister Persaud stated, “Based on those interactions, we made several commitments to improving drainage and we have started work already.”
While interacting with residents, Minister Persaud indicated that the materialisation of the residents’ requests is an indication of Government’s support and commitment.
Addressing residents’ response to flooding, Minister Persaud pointed out, “Across the country, there are meetings taking place with farmers and technical officers in terms of alerting people on what communities can do, because you too have a lot of responsibility in preventing wide-spread flooding.”
He noted that residents’ role in flood prevention include cleaning waterways, proper disposal of garbage and reporting drainage problems. Minister Persaud called on the residents to be more pro-active in this area.
In recognition of the start of the rainy season, Minister Persaud noted that several communities along the East Coast are particularly vulnerable in terms of high density rainfall; and not only going into the rainy season, but also La Nina which is an irregular rainy season.
“We should expect about 60 percent and above of the normal amount of rainfall that we normally get at year-end. This means that we’re looking at the potential for flash-flooding and also the potential for problems being created by as much as 50 percent more than we normally have in a rainy season,” he added.
Additionally, the Ministry has relocated excavators from Black Bush Polder to the East Coast to ensure efficient drainage and irrigation in communities such as Victoria and Golden Grove. 
Minister Persaud also indicated that the Ministry is addressing concerns the community has with GUYSUCO and irrigation.
The residents stated other concerns which include requests for additional breeding animals, feed quotas and maintenance of the community’s drainage system.
Minister Persaud indicated that the Regional Administration is responsible for drainage, and he tasked the Farmers’ Association with maintaining the internal drainage system during the rainy season.
While on the East Coast, Minister Persaud also met with farmers in Enterprise, where they were able to raise their concerns which include securing house lots, farm lands in the community’s back-lands, and grass land, transportation for GUYSUCO workers, incentives for persons involved in mangrove replanting exercises and increases in prices for rice, sugar, flour and other products.
Several of these issues will be addressed at a meeting scheduled for November 25 in Enterprise, East Coast Demerara, where farmers will be able to interact with officers from the Agriculture Ministry and GUYSUCO.