Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud, a team of agriculture officials and Region Two Chairman Ally Baksh visited several communities in the Upper Pomeroon Friday where interactions focused on improving agricultural services to the residents of the various communities.
Minister Persaud met with residents of Warapana, Siriki, Jacklow and St Monica at the Kabakaburi community centre, the Government Information Agency (GINA) reported.
He indicated, according to GINA, that a boat will be allocated for the purpose of conducting extension services in the region’s riverain communities, while a team of officers will soon be deployed to several communities in the Pomeroon River to assess the effects of the recently experienced La Nina phenomenon.
And informing residents about climate change, he stated that while Guyana is doing its best at using its forest to combat this challenge, other countries too need to step-up their input.
Persaud said that government in recognizing the need for improved infrastructural development in those communities has allocated $25M for raising several sections of the embankment along the Upper Pomeroon River and for additional D&I work.
He also told residents that the two recently commissioned land development projects at Warapana and Siriki will see more farmers being given the opportunity to expand their activities in light of the diversification thrust.
In the meantime, close to US$30M is being spent on transforming and diversifying the traditional agriculture sector to create other economic ventures in crop, livestock and aquaculture, GINA reported.
Persaud also informed residents of the progress of Community Development Projects that were submitted by toshaos at the last National Toshao Council meeting at the Guyana International Conference Center last year. Once the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) funds are approved, communities will be able to realize their projects, Persaud said.
