Small farmers on Region Three islands Hog, Leguan and Wakenaam are set to benefit from ventures aimed at expanding the agriculture sector under the US$21M Agri-culture Export Diversification Programme and the US$6.9M Rural Enterprise and Agricul-ture Development (READ) programmes.
Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud made this announcement when he visited those islands on Sunday, a press release from the Government Information Agency (GINA) said. The ministry will host a seminar shortly to determine the possibilities for diversification.
Earlier in the year, the ministry launched the READ and the Agriculture Diversification programmes to build the capacity of small farmers and to encourage them to expand their produce and to do livestock farming. “The initiative to host such a seminar is based on a larger plan by government to cushion and position farmers to deal with the effects of the global economic crisis,” GINA said. The READ project will look at opportunities from which small farmers can benefit.
According to Persaud, these communities are not insulated from the effects of the world economic crisis and as such government is focusing on the island communities because of their vulnerability. He said Guyana is vulnerable since it sources items such as chemicals, fertilisers and feed from overseas. Persaud noted that the ministry is contemplating using cassava as a feed in an effort to cut production cost.
According to GINA, two excavators are currently working to improve the drainage and irrigation systems at Leguan. Other works slated to be done there this year include the building of a sanitary block at Maryville costing $4M; a $5M revetment at Henrietta; a $1.5M sluice door at Success and the rehabilitation of roads from De Witts to Henrietta at an estimated cost of $8.5M.
At Wakenaam, the minister noted that the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) will provide seed paddy at a cost of $3,500 per bag instead of $4,000 to aid rice farmers. The ministry has also provided the services of extension agents, veterinarians and training sessions for farmers to boost their capacity. Training for farmers will focus on farm layout and crop selection.
As regard the application of Value-Added Tax to the cost of spare parts, Persaud said there is a mechanism through the GRDB which would preclude rice farmers from paying this tax. A development proposal could also be submitted to Go-Invest which would allow farmers to benefit from duty-free equipment.
At Wakenaam, scheduled works include building a $6M bridge at Zeelandia; the rehabilitation of a guest house and overseas quarters at a cost of about $4M and $1.6M respectively; the rehabilitation of roads from Noitgedacht to Ridge at an estimated cost of $8M and the rehabilitation of a bridge at Sarah costing about $1M.
Meanwhile, CEO at the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) Lionel Wordsworth said his office is collaborating with the RDCs and NDCs to execute the work programme for these areas. He said too tenders will be going out for the construction of a koker at Waterloo, Leguan. Also, of the 60, 000 rods of canals and dams at Leguan, the NDIA has completed 36, 000.
