-to assist cane farmers
Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud says he expects drainage in Moleson Creek, Region Six to improve significantly following the commissioning of a sluice in the area on Monday.
The initiative stemmed from a call from cane farmers who wanted to expand production, a press release from the Government Information Agency (GINA) said. “We decided to lend additional support which led to the construction of these four sluices. Government has again made it clear that it will continue to support GuySuCo in ensuring that notwithstanding difficulties there will be a much more modern and competitive industry,” he said.
The minister also alluded to the construction of a US$185M flagship state-of-the-art sugar factory which was commissioned on August 22. The four sluices are valued at a total of $150m.
The factory which was envisaged in 1998 as part of the Guyana Sugar Corpora-tion’s (GuySuCo) strategic review marks the culmination of 10 years of planning and execution. The Skeldon factory is expected to produce about 1.1 million tonnes of sugar per annum and, Persaud said, in order to ensure that it reaches its target about 5000 hectares of private cane lands will have to be cultivated. “While GuySuCo has been developing additional lands there has also been tremendous response from private cane farmers to tap into this opportunity,” GINA said.
Persaud also spoke about the European Union’s 36% price cut and what it means for the local industry. “In the Caribbean many countries responded by shutting down their industry.
For them the crisis was only about the challenge but in Guyana we saw an opportunity which has led us to create the modern facility which has seen billions of dollars being invested by both GuySuCo and the private cane farmers in the opportunity that will be realized,” he said. Government obtained additional lands and worked along with GuySuCo to acquire financing for it.
The Moleson Creek area was identified to supply cane to the Skeldon project however it was soon noted that an efficient drainage system was one of the most urgent needs for the expansion.
In 2008, the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority invited bids for the construction of five drainage structures. To date four have been completed.
Persaud also noted that the link canal which will aid in transporting cane from Moleson Creek to the Skeldon Sugar Factory was expected to be built by private cane farmers; however, government pursued the project.
“We do hope that this facility like the others will see increased acreages, I have been looking at the report of the private cane farmers and I must commend them since in some areas they have exceeded their budget in areas that have been cultivated,” he said.
Several private cane farmers also asked to join the project by working to acquire lands; however, all the land in the Moleson Creek area is already occupied and according to Persaud government will be looking to develop additional lands in other areas.
He noted that this will significantly benefit the modern Skeldon Sugar factory.
Region Six Chairman Zulfikar Mustapha thanked government for supporting the farmers as they have a major responsibility to supply sugar to the factory.
He said Moleson Creek accounts for about 60 per cent of farmers’ cultivation which is close to 3,000 hectares of primary land. He said the sluice will significantly boost drainage capacity.
The three other sluices are expected to be commissioned shortly, GINA said.
