AS part of efforts to improve the country’s agriculture infrastructure, 35 contracts totalling $1.3 billion were awarded for the purchase of equipment and the execution of several projects.

In brief comments at a signing ceremony held in the Ministry of Agriculture’s boardroom on Tuesday, subject minister, Zulfikar Mustapha, noted that the contracts were in keeping with the ministry’s work programme for 2022.

“These contracts are a result of the infrastructure that we are putting in place so we can enhance and improve our agriculture infrastructure. We know for a fact that Guyana is now leading the agri-food system in the Caribbean,” he added.

The minister added that Guyana will soon be in the limelight for investors and so it is critical that the country’s infrastructure is up-to-date.

“We will be hosting an Agri-investment forum not so long from now …that means a lot of investors will be coming to Guyana to invest in the agriculture sector, so we have to have the infrastructure in place. So many of the works that are being signed as contracts, are works that we have to enhance,” Mustapha said.

Of the 35 contracts, three were signed for the procurement of two long-reach hydraulic excavators, one new tractor and the rehabilitation of the seed processing facility at the Mahaica Mahaicony Abary – Agricultural Development Authority (MMA/ADA).

Meanwhile two contracts were signed for the supply and delivery of land levelling equipment and a single stage steam turbine under the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo).

Four contracts were inked for the delivery of agro-processing equipment for the Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC).

One contract was inked for the supply and delivery of HDEPE pipes for the brakish water shrimp project under the fisheries department, while the remaining contracts were inked for the construction and rehabilitation of several pump stations and drainage structures, the procurement of critical machinery, and the maintenance of several canals across the country along with the dredging of the Pomeroon River in Region Two, under the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA).

Minister Mustapha said that the projects were critical and urged the contractors to execute the works according to the contractual specifications.