TO ensure that all farmers across the country benefit from the rapid growth and expansion of one of the most important and productive sectors of Guyana’s economy, Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha met with the farmers of Coverden, East Bank Demerara.

In a follow-up meeting with the primarily crop and livestock farmers last Friday, he announced that a team from the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) will soon start working to help with flood mitigation in farming areas along the entire East Bank.
According to the agriculture minister, he will ensure that in a matter of days, a team of NDIA engineers led by Chairman Lionel Wordsworth will return to the area to do an assessment, following which a thorough drainage plan would be established to direct the operations.

Additionally, the minister said that officials from the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) and the Guyana Livestock Development Agency (GLDA) will travel to the Coverden area to assist farmers there. He related that in addition to planting supplies, farmers will get help raising livestock animals, as well as technical support for growing fruits and vegetables, cash crops, and coconuts.

Speaking with the Sunday Chronicle, Minister Mustapha said, “Vice-President Jagdeo met with those farmers before the Local Government Elections (LGEs), and he promised them that I would pay them a visit and hear what their concerns were. And that was the reason for my visit. The farmers raised a number of issues regarding drainage and irrigation, as well as some issues about planting materials and livestock. I am happy to say that we will fulfil all of their requests, and deal with all of their issues.”

The minister also said, “Firstly, I have to ensure that I have a plan, going forward, and that is why I will be sending Lionel Wordsworth, who is the NDIA head, and he will lead a team to go into the community and assess the situation. While that will be happening, NAREI will also be doing an assessment to see what type of planting materials they will need, and the types of crops that they are cultivating there. All the planting materials will be given free of charge.”

Minister Mustapha also said that the officials from GLDA will pay them a visit and give them the necessary assistance in that field as well.
“We have already started a programme on the highway, where livestock farmers were given high-bred pigs, and now we are looking at giving these livestock farmers in this community that same opportunity as well,” he said.
Minister Mustapha said he was very pleased with the manner in which the engagement went with the residents.
According to him, the people were “very receptive and complimentary” to him and the Vice-President for the interest that was shown to them.

“These residents were very receptive and complimentary to us; they said that this is the first time that politicians have made these types of commitments to them in the community, and are delivering on them immediately. They were also very happy that the VP came back, and not only spoke with them, but he also told them that he will work with the residents to ensure that the community is enhanced for the betterment of all,” Minister Mustapha said.

Vice-President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, who was also at the meeting, along with Minister within the Office of the Prime Minister with responsibility for Public Affairs Kwame McCoy, added that the agriculture ministry will soon involve locals, and begin teaching them to help with tasks such as grafting at the ministry’s plant nursery in Timehri.
Dr. Jagdeo also said that he will help make sure that there are enough planting supplies at the facility.