– Agri. Minister commits to needs assessment of works to be done
-farmers to benefit from fertilisers, access to seeds and other planting material
Farmers from Hogg Island, Essequibo Islands-West Demerara (Region Three), will soon benefit from a number of drainage and irrigation works, Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha said.
Mustapha during an outreach to the island recently committed to providing much needed help to farmers there.
Nazim Mohammed, a Region Three Regional Democratic Councillor, said that there is need for repairs to be carried out on several structures.
“NDIA did a koker on the western end of the island, but we need another koker because going to the southern part of the island, the koker cannot take off the water. On the North, we don’t have a problem with flooding but when the rain falls heavy, it takes a longer time to discharge. We also need a bigger koker on the western end. Minister, we also have a number of koker doors in need of urgent repairs. We would also be grateful for a speedy rehabilitation of the 11 miles of canal. Six miles have already been completed and we need the additional five miles to be done. On the eastern side of Hogg Island, we need to rehabilitate those canals as well,” Mohammed said.
The Councillor also complained about the exorbitant costs farmers have to pay for seeds and fertilisers on the island.
“We know that Government has taken off the VAT from fertilisers and other agriculture inputs but by the time it gets to us, the cost of these fertilisers are still high. We have to pay $200 per bag to bring it down. If you can put some system in place to assist us, it will help tremendously. We also need markets and some seeds. We are exporting some watermelon from one part of the island but the cost of the seeds is heavy on the farmers. We are paying as much as $6,400 for a pack of watermelon seeds,” Mohammed said.
Farmers also said that there is need for an additional machine to assist with desilting the canals and for rehabilitation works to commence on the river defence dam.
One farmer added that there is need for surveys to be done so that persons can acquire land leases.
In response, Minister Mustapha said the Ministry of Agriculture will work with the residents of Hogg Island to alleviate the problems they are facing.
“After listening to all of your issues, I want to assure you that I am committed to working with you to have your issues resolved. I have my officers here from the agencies taking notes so that we can work with you,” he said.
The Minister promised that an engineer from the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) will return to the island to conduct a needs assessment and thereafter provide a report. Mustapha committed also to having another machine sent to the island to assist with the drainage and irrigation works while the broken machine is repaired.
“The comrade raised the issue about land leases. My office will consult with the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission so that their officers can meet with you to have these issues resolved,” Minister Mustapha said.
Additionally, the Minister said that the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) has a role to play in the execution of developmental works while noting that officials must develop a work programme to determine the process by which the projects are done.
The Minister said too that systems would be put in place to ensure that farmers are able to access seeds, fertilisers and other agricultural items at an affordable cost on the island.
Meanwhile, on the issue of market for farmers’ crops, the Agriculture Minister said efforts are being made to revamp the Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC).
“We are looking at new markets for our farmers…soon the new GMC will be tasked with the responsibility of providing markets for the farmers. When farmers don’t have regular markets for their produce, many times their produce is being dumped or it spoils. We will work with the prisons, schools, the army, the police force and the hospitals so that our farmers can benefit from the markets within these governmental agencies,” he said.
