A TEAM from the Ministry of Agriculture paid a visit to rice farmers at Leguan, Essequibo River last Saturday to discuss a way out of the dire situation they are currently facing with irrigation water.

Led by Minister within the Agriculture Ministry, Mr. Alli Baksh, the group included Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA), Mr. Lionel Wordsworth and other members of his engineering team.
Involved in the discussions also were representatives from the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI), Rice Producers Association (RPA), Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA), Assistant Regional Executive Officer and the Vice-Chairman of the Leguan Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC).
The farmers were given a chance to voice their concerns and some of them were very passionate in raising their points. Personalities clashed and persons disagreed with each other but, in the end, those gathered were able to find some common ground.
Another team from the NDIA is expected to return to the island on Thursday to examine the areas for the excavation of a canal and the building of a sea dam to aid in irrigation.
Baksh also indicated the possibility of having someone from the Ministry of Public Works accompany them to advise on technical matters.

Immediate work
Meantime, more immediate work to be done includes the rehabilitation of two sluices and the dredging of five canals for drainage purposes.
In addition, the NDC and the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) have been given the responsibility of managing the irrigation of fresh water for farmers.
Baksh also mentioned the possible move of an excavator to the island to do all the earthen work. However, this has to be examined carefully because moving a machine from one area could cause that place to suffer.
The minister said the meeting gave him a good opportunity not only to listen to the issues that were already brought to his attention but to find out more, in depth, of some of the problems faced by an agricultural-based island.
He said the Agriculture Ministry has a huge responsibility with Guyana being an agricultural based economy which is being diversified for a number of years now and that the diversification also creates new challenges.
Baksh said a major challenge faced by the agriculture sector is the changing weather pattern.
“The cycle has changed; there is a new climate dispensation in the world and low-lying countries like ours are facing many difficulties. When you have long dry periods, the water becomes salt and it is very difficult to irrigate water,” he posited.
Baksh said the Ministry is incurring a big expense due to the difficulties being faced by farmers all around Guyana, in terms of irrigation water.
He explained that the Ministry has approximately 60 excavators but, for the work to be done effectively and efficiently, it costs billions of dollars.
“For every hour that those machines work, it is roughly about $20,000 and yet we are trying our best to extend it all around Guyana,” Baksh pointed out.