On Friday several agencies attached to the Agriculture Ministry signed 32 contracts totaling
some $2,121,486,609. The monies represent contracts for the construction and rehabilitation of
several pump stations and drainage structures, the procurement of critical machinery, and the
maintenance of several canals across the country.
The National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA), disclosed that of the 32 contracts
signed, one was for a $544,890,203 contract with Adamantium Holdings for the construction of a
pump station at Charity, Region Two (Pomeroon- Supenaam). This structure is expected to
provide flood control for approximately 400 families and farmers by draining more than 200
acres of farmland for the cultivation of cash crops.
NDIA also signed a $261,080,869 contract with the same contractor for the rehabilitation of a
pump station at Cozier on the Essequibo Coast. They noted that presently there is only one pump
in operation at the pump station. This project, therefore, caters to the rehabilitation of the existing
structure and installation of an additional pump that suffered damages some years ago. Upon
completion, some 500 acres of cash crop and in excess of 2,500 acres of rice farms and residents
in the area will benefit from improved drainage.
They disclosed that works on the construction of the farm-to-market road on the right bank of the
Mahaicony Creek is also expected to commence this year with the signing of a $307,155,890
contract with Well Built Construction Services. 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 and Jacob, 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 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,” Minister Mustapha said.
He added, “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.”
Additionally, 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 ATVs for the National Agriculture Research and
Extension Institute (NAREI).
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