D&I works, clearing of farmlands to start in Victoria Village

-16 streets to be constructed, rehabilitated

Residents and farmers from Victoria, East Coast Demerara will soon benefit from several agricultural interventions such as the clearing of farmlands and drainage and irrigation (D&I) works.

These interventions are aimed at increasing food productivity.

Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha made these commitments during a farmers’ meeting in the village on Monday.

Minister Mustapha noted that emergency works will be undertaken in the community to desilt the canals while several farmers will be employed to ensure the monthly maintenance of the drainage canals.

Additionally, three acres of farmlands will be cleared, allowing farmers to properly access  their lands.

“We want to help farmers in the community. We want to bring back these communities to their former glory. Agriculture is important to us because it is the production of food  the agriculture minister stressed.

The minister has also committed to providing the community with black giant chickens, along with agriculture implements like tillers and mist blowers to enhance production.

“There are a lot of exciting opportunities but we have to be prepared to work. That is why we are coming into the communities to listen to the concerns of the grassroots farmers,” he stated.

Over the years, Victoria benefitted from planting materials, an access bridge at Moravian Street, rehabilitation of the farm-to-market access road, breeding bull, black giant chickens, and drainage and irrigation projects, among other interventions.

Meanwhile, like other communities, Victoria too will benefit from other infrastructural projects.

16 streets will also be constructed and rehabilitated in the community by the Ministry of Public Works.

These include Benn, Last Cross, Spencer, Cato, Church, Well, Bagrice, and Dublin Streets.

Also in attendance at the meeting were the Director General of the Ministry, Madanlall Ramraj, and Chief Executive Officer of the Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA), Dr Dwight Walrond