Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud met with Abary/Mahaicony/Champagne farmers on Wednesday to discuss interventions being made for farmers affected by heavy rainfall and to listen to concerns affecting their livelihoods.
According to a press release from the Govern-ment Information Agency (GINA) Persaud was accompanied by a technical team from his ministry as well as representatives from the Guyana Rice Develop-ment Board. The said areas are engaged in small and large scale agriculture activities.
At Abary Creek the team identified numerous support measures: the provision of drainage and irrigation works, seeds, planting materials, chemicals and equipment to be provided and distributed to affected farming communities.
Persaud also committed to continue examining additional interventions to support farmers’ livelihoods, particularly those in affected rice, cash crop and livestock growing regions.
GINA said farmers voiced concerns about the maintenance of canals at Abary, cattle rustling, repairs to the main access road that leads to the Abary Creek and bridge, access to feeds and molasses and bat infestation. They also said there is a need for more teachers in the area.
The minister pledged to investigate the complaints about cattle rustling and to forward same to the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Commissioner of Police.
As regard repairs to the road and bridge, he explained that while the MMA is awaiting the procurement of materials for the rehabilitation of the road the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) will grade it. Repairs to the bridge will start soon. On the issue of the shortage of teachers, Persaud said he will ensure that the matter is addressed.
At Champagne, residents received a quantity of drainage tubes. “We have been trying to sort out the big drainage issues for the entire area so that farmers in the area will have access to proper drainage structures. A lot of the tubes were used up during the El Nino condition and we were forced to acquire more,” Persaud said. The NDIA and MMA will be working with farmers to ensure that the tubes are installed correctly.
Mahaicony Creek
Persaud said it is important for farmers to be more proactive and aware of new and emerging developments in the sector. He also called for closer collaboration between farmers. He repeated this observation at a meeting held at the Gordon Table Primary/Nursery School at Mahaicony Creek. Farmers in riverain areas are vulnerable to increased rainfall due to climate change and as such efforts are being made to create adaptation measures. To meet this objective the ministry recently built embankments on both banks of the Mahaicony River which have helped to stem flooding. “Once we make those commitments we try to honour them but we depend on your support to protect these structures,” Persaud said.
Meanwhile, CEO at the NDIA Lionel Wordsworth said a new canal will be dug parallel to the river and the excavated material will be used to build an embankment. As regard animal health Persaud said a team of veterinary assistants will be arriving in the area shortly to investigate complaints about livestock developing foot-rot.
