Flood-relief grant taken to Region Nine by Gov’t Ministers

–farmers to also benefit from seeds, other planting materials
Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha traveled last Saturday to the villages of Awarewaunau,
Shea and Maruranau in Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo (Region Nine) to distribute flood-relief
grants to farmers who suffered during this year’s extended rainy period.
He revealed that Region Nine is the sixth region to benefit from the grant that seeks to assist
farmers with returning to the land as soon as possible. The agriculture minister during the
distribution exercise told farmers that the exercise was a result a commitment made by President
Irfaan Ali to assist farmers with returning to the land following the devastating May-June rainy
period. “Today, we are here to rollout the government’s flood-relief grant to farmers who
suffered losses during the rainy period. This flood was the most devastating flood in our
country’s history. His Excellency, President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali said that the government
would make some form of assistance available to those who suffered losses. Today, we are here
to make good on that commitment that the President made. Each farmer here will receive
$50,000 so that they can return to the land as quickly as possible,” Mustapha declared.

The agriculture minister said that sighting the numerous investments made to develop the sector
since taking office, he reminded farmers that the government sees agriculture as one of the most
important sectors in the country. “Agriculture is a very important activity for the PPP
government. Unlike the previous government, although we are now producing oil and gas, we
recognize that agriculture is one of the most important sectors and that you, the farmers, also
play a critical role because you are the ones producing the food,” he said.
Minister Mustapha went on to point out that in addition to the grant, famers will also benefit
from Acoushi Ant bait, seeds, and other planting materials from the ministry free of cost.
He stressed that his ministry will also be constructing three agro-processing facilities in the
region to assist farmers with making their produce more value-added. This, the minister said will
see that each village in the region benefiting from a cassava mill to assist with processing
cassava. He said that cassava is one of the main crops grown in the region. “This year, we will be
building three agro-processing facilities in Region Nine. Farmers will be able to take their crops
to one of these facilities, package it and make it more value-added so that they can have better
prices. We will also assist farmers with securing lucrative markets for these crops. In addition to
these facilities, the ministry has also purchased cassava mills that will be distributed to each
village in the region,” Mustapha promised.
Minister Mustapha while visiting the region, took time to visit the Lethem Public Market where
he interacted with farmers who usually ply their trade at the facility.