Minister Zulfikar Mustapha with some of the contractors and Heads of Agencies at the contract signing exercise
This will see the construction of 4.5 km of road which will provide improved access to over 15,000 acres of farmland to rice farmers and residents in Esau, Jacoba, and Mora Point. Upon completion of this project, farmers traversing this road will benefit from a reduction in transport cost, thus lowering their cost of production.
Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha said that there is a direct link between the completion of these projects and the livelihoods of not only farmers but residents in these communities.
“Last year we were able to achieve over 94% of our work programme and that shows the kind of we have been pushing this work programme. In the Ministry of Agriculture, we also have very critical programmes that people depend on.
“So when our agencies execute a programme, there are a number of people that will benefit and depend on these programmes for their livelihood. For example, the D&I system; in the country, we know for a fact that not only farmers depend on the D&I system, but residents too. So when there is heavy rainfall people call on the Ministry of Agriculture through the NDIA.
“When there is a drought people call on the Ministry of Agriculture because they need irrigation. So you can see the linkage that we have in terms of the importance of the sector.
“So I want to ask you here this afternoon, that like last year, let us continue to execute our work and on a timely basis. Let us continue to ensure that the work is being executed in a way that we satisfy this specification,” the minister said.
Contracts were also signed for the construction of drainage structures in Vriesland, West Bank Demerara (Region Three); the rehabilitation of secondary channels in Number 50-52 Acre Dairy Plots in Region; the supply and delivery of agro-processing equipment for the New Guyana Marketing Corporation’s (New GMC) Parika packaging facility, and the supply and delivery of laboratory equipment and six new ATV for the National Agriculture Research and Extension Institute (NAREI). (Modified press release from Ministry of Agriculture).
