A SERIES of much-needed drainage works will commence in Numbers Five, 28, 29 and 30 villages, West Coast Berbice (WCB), Region Five, that are expected to minimise flooding and increase production will commence within a week.

This announcement was made by Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha on Saturday after residents appealed for assistance with clearing several drains and canals.

Several residents, most of whom are farmers, told the minister that there was an urgent need for the works to be done. One farmer from Number Five Village informed the minister that there were works done in the area a few months ago, but that the works were not sufficient because the contractor did did complete cleaning the entire canal, a release noted.

Another farmer who attended the meeting at Number 28 Village said he has been residing in the village all his life, but this was the first time an Agriculture Minister visited the area to engage them. This farmer also spoke about the need for work to be done on the main and connecting drainage channels in the area.

Other farmers and residents also told the minister that they suffer from flooding because the channels have been blocked for some time, the release said.

After listening to the farmers’ concerns, Minister Mustapha informed them that within a week a machine will be sent to the area to commence the works. He also told them that a work programme will be developed to ensure that the canals are maintained to minimise future flooding.

“As a government, it is important for us to ensure we work with various communities across this country. When it comes to agriculture, we will ensure everyone interested in the sector receives assistance, because when you produce and the sector grows, everyone benefits. So, within a week a machine will be made available to clear the dam and any other area that needs drainage we’ll work with you to have those works done. I will also send a team of technical officers to do an assessment in the area to see what other assistance we can give you to improve your farming,” the minister noted.

In addition to drainage works, Minister Mustapha informed farmers that additional assistance will be given through the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) and the Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA).

Residents also told the minister that the infrastructure in the village, more so the roads, needed urgent attention. Minister Mustapha informed the residents that he would engage the Ministers of Public Works on the matter.

Minister Mustapha also appealed to the residents to work along with the government to improve the village economy. He told them that they should not allow petty politics to deter them from accepting help from the government and that the government was elected to serve all the citizens of the country, the release noted.