Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha has disclosed plans to expand the mandate of the Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC), which the government wants to provide a support system for local farmers, especially from far-flung areas, in finding local and regional markets for their produce.
“A continuous complaint has been lack of market and transport for the produce. What we are working out is for the GMC to work along as a support system with them, because the opportunities are there and the investors have signaled interests,” Mustapha told the Stabroek News following a visit on Wednesday to Wakenaam, in the Essequibo River.
“For example, in Wakenaam, a lot of plantain is produced and there is market for it in the region. We have had potential investors ask about opportunities and what we are looking at is getting them to go to the islands (in the Essequibo River) to see firsthand the opportunities, and GMC will have a key role in that process,” he added.
Mustapha said that with the transport of crops being one of the biggest challenges for local farmers, he is seeking a swift solution.
“We have the crops, we have diversification of crops, too, and with that also expanding we have to find a solution, and find it fast,” he said.
Since taking office, Mustapha has been visiting farming communities to gain a firsthand look of his sector at the ground level, while putting in place a mechanism for follow ups though regional representatives.
“I have said — and they and you can hold me to this — that this is not a one-off visit. This will be continuous and we have a system where the officers are to follow up and give periodic reports,” he said.
At Wakenaam, a number of farmers turned out for a meeting and outlined their concerns.
Excavator
“During the meeting, Essequibo Islands-West Demerara Regional Chair-man Ishan Ayube said that there is need for a new excavator on the island to assist with the digging and maintenance of the canals, the ministry subsequently reported.
“We have an excavator that is 11 years old. It has worked successfully in the past but it has reached a stage where maintenance is becoming a problem, its work hours is a problem and we are getting less rodage because of its age. I’m asking, on behalf of the residents and the farmers of Wakenaam, for a new excavator,” Ayube said.
In responding to the request, Mustapha committed to having a new excavator stationed on the island before the end of the year.
“I know that the excavator you have here is not working effectively. I’ve just consulted with my technical officers. We’ll be purchasing some new excavators and I’ll assign one to the island. So before the end of this year, you will have a brand new long boom excavator on the island to help with the digging and clearing of the canals. I’ve also instructed the NDIA [National Drainage and Irrigation Authority] to send a bulldozer to the island to complete all the work before it returns to Georgetown,” he assured.
Mustapha told this newspaper that the machines will be rotated for use in the Essequibo Islands so its use is maximised and residents can have year-long relief.
The subject Minister also committed to having his Ministry conduct a needs assessment in order to develop a work programme for works needed on the island.
Ayube also pointed out that there is need for assistance with their current maintenance programme.
Complaints
“There were several complaints to the NDIA by farmers on the way the programme was kept. Complaints that we were doing mainly spraying, weeding and, to some extent, using an excavator. We were written [to] by NDIA last year and in August of this year we were told to only prepare trenches that were done by weeding or excavation. It will cost $3.5 million to do a maintenance programme with only weeding,” Ayube said.
“The NDC cannot afford to do a weeding maintenance programme or excavation programme with the current tax valuation and the current NDIA grant. If we were able to continue with the spraying and the other maintenance which was successful to about 90%, one month’s maintenance would cost about $1.7 million and we would have been able to manage that,” he added.
However, Mustapha explained that the ministry will not encourage the spraying of chemicals as a means of weed control, while noting the negative effects these chemicals have on the eco-system.
“I will not encourage contractors or persons who are working to clean the canals to spray chemicals as a means of weed control. While you are spraying the surface, the weeds would grow or end up at the bottom, and as the seasons progress, you will find that the canals becoming shallow,” Mustapha said.
For farmer Joseph Juman, the issue of the coconut cockle affecting not only his but other residents’ crops was a pressing concern. Mustapha told the farmers that the government is placing a lot of emphasis on coconut production and, therefore, will ensure extension officers from the National Agricultural Research and Extension institute (NAREI) work with farmers to assist with combating the pest.
“Coconuts have the potential to bring in a large amount of foreign currency for our economy. This multi-purpose commodity is now taking the world by storm and we will be putting a lot of effort and emphasis to ensure we develop our coconut industry,” he said.
“Government will be making resources available to increase research in order to strengthen the sector. We will also be constructing two new coconut nurseries so that planting material can be readily available and farmers can have better guidance in order to expand their cultivation. NAREI’s extension officers will also be coming to your farms to assist you with the coconut cockle infestation within the coming days. Extension services will also be increased tremendously,” he added.
Requests were also made for a drying floor for rice paddy to be constructed on the island.
Mustapha asked farmers to identify the land and said his ministry will work with officials through the Guyana Rice Development Board to construct a drying floor.
Mustapha also took the opportunity to encourage farmers to cultivate value-added crops and practice more economical methods of planting like intercropping. Farmers also benefitted from the ministry’s seed distribution programme.
Accompanying the minister on the outreach was Ministry of Agriculture Director General Madanlall Ramraj and other heads of agencies.
