MINISTER of Local Government and Regional Development with Parliamentary responsibilities for Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), Nigel Dharamall, on Tuesday, handed over the keys to two 80 Horsepower John Deer Tractors to the regional administration.
At a ceremonial handing over, Minister Dharamlall said the tractors cost $12M and was purchased under the region’s capital budget. He said that it will significantly improve the lives of rice farmers in Region Two.
The tractors will be used to rehabilitate access dams leading to several rice lands in the region.
“The tractors will be used to improve access dams; rice farmers will benefit and it will help in the upgrading of the farm to market access dams,” Minister Dharamlall said.
Chairperson of Region Two, Vilma De Silva, said that the region was in need of the tractors and so, it came at an opportune time. She said that the tractors will be sent to various communities to help farmers.
“We will be trying to maintain the dams before the rainy season; the tractor will be used for that so that when harvesting commences, the farmers will have access to good roads to transport their produce,” De Silva said.