Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud and a team recently donated supplies to farmers in the Canals polder who had been severely affected by flooding while plans are in train to assist other affected areas.
According to a Government Information Agency (GINA) press release this exercise will soon be extended to Salem, La Jalousie and Hague, West Coast Demerara. Persaud said about 300 farmers were targeted in Region Three but this number may increase after verification exercises. Farmers in regions four and six have also been targeted and over the weekend, some from the East Coast Demerara received planting materials and other items.
The minister said the activity is intended to help persons who are cultivating. Persaud said his ministry would also be providing plant materials for vegetables, fruits and cassava. Initially, he said, the exercise will entail the distribution of seeds, plants and some chemicals.
He said too farmers would be given vouchers for cassava sticks which he is trying to source from hinterland areas. In the light of this Persaud called on communities to give farmers the first option to collect the items and others who are interested in cultivation would also be given assistance.
The minister reiterated that the long-term work would be done in the area of drainage and irrigation aback the ‘C’ Line area, in Canal Number Two Polder. A separate canal to the Demerara River would be cut and a new pump would be installed in the area.
He said the ministry has been drafting a maintenance programme for the main canal since it is often overgrown with shrimp weed. Currently, a chemical solution is being examined along with the option of letting in salt water just before the rainy season.
Persaud said too that some persons have been cutting dams and this has exacerbated the drainage situation. He told the neighbourhood democratic councils and the Water Users Association that better systems need to be put in place along with better management. Persaud said over the next five to six weeks major rehabilitation would begin in the Canals Polder to strengthen drainage structures and earthen work as about 1,400 acres of cultivation land exists and that has put pressure on the existing drainage system. He then called on residents and farmers to co-operate with the agriculture officers in managing the assistance programme.
Additionally, Persaud said his ministry had experienced some difficulties sourcing plant materials and chemicals.
However, he said suppliers had indicated that the items would be provided in the next two to three weeks. He said that he had met with them to determine whether they could fly in some supplies so that more farmers could benefit early.
As regard the broilers the minister said these farmers would be given vouchers which can be redeemed at hatcheries. Those who rear ducklings would need to collect same from the National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI) also through submission of a voucher. Farmers rearing pigs, sheep and goats, will be put on the breeding programme and given priority, he added.