Farmers in Region Three have been told by Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha that major works cannot be carried out at this time due to lack of adequate funding.
According to a Ministry of Agriculture release yesterday, the minister made this comment when he conducted a series of meetings with farmers in several farming communities in Parika Backdam, Ruby Backdam, and Vergenoegen. This and other planned outreaches to Hague Backdam and Den Amstel are in recognition of Agriculture Month 2020 currently being observed across the country.
Among the issues raised by the farmers were, lack of adequate drainage, gross neglect to key drainage and irrigation structures, deplorable farm to market access roads and lack of markets and market facilities to sell their produce.
They also complained about the inadequate works carried out by contractors hired to clear several main canals.
In response, Mustapha assured the farmers that he is committed to urgently addressing their concerns. “Immediately I’ve put measures in place to address some of your urgent needs. I’ve instructed officers from the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) to send a machine to do immediate works to have several clogged drains desilted. I’ve also asked the Chief Executive Officer of the National Agriculture Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) to work with farmers to ensure their farming practices improve so that they can enjoy higher levels of production. It is time for our farmers to move away from traditional farming practices and adopt a more subsistent level of farming.”
With regard the shoddy work of the contractors who were tasked with clearing the canals, the minister charged the Regional Office with ensuring that works are carried out in a satisfactory manner before payments are made, adding that “this Government will ensure there is value for every dollar of tax payers’ money spent.”
In keeping with the theme of Agriculture Month 2020 “Investing in Agriculture for Poverty Reduction and Sustainable Development”, Mustapha distributed over 200 packets of seeds to various farmers who had requested planting material. He also informed that the distribution of the COVID-19 relief assistance package will commence in Region Three soon.
However, the minister also told the gathering that lack of adequate funding has prevented major works from being carried out at this time. “Even though we are committed to carrying out several developmental projects, only about 50% of the funds allocated to the Ministry from the GY$330 billion Budget for 2020, is available, since the previous Government already expended large sums of monies without the consent of the National Assembly. Since taking office back in August of this year and meeting with farmers in several Regions, similar problems have been raised at every meeting. The previous Government neglected some very critical infrastructure and now we have to work to correct it.”
