In an effort to increase and sustain rice production in Region Six, Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha on Saturday noted that $20M was budgeted to carry out major rehabilitation works at the seed paddy facility located in Lesbeholden, Black Bush Polder, Corentyne.
Stabroek News in July, 2008, reported that the seed paddy facility was commissioned at the location at the cost of $50M by the then Minister of Agriculture, Robert Persaud.
Mustapha, who toured the facility on Saturday stated that to his knowledge the facility was never put into operation following the commissioning.
“I am very disappointed that since the building of this facility it was not put into operation. I don’t know what was the problem but when I went in there just now I was very shocked to see the condition of the dryer, the processing plant and the generator”, Mustapha said.
According to the minister, he has since requested that the Guyana Rice Development Board and Rice Producers Association work together to come up with an estimate “to see how much we can spend to bring back this facility.”
The Rice Producers Association is also set to assist with the drying floor located outside of the facility.
Mustapha, who was the regional chairman for Region Six when the facility was commissioned, stressed, “I want this facility to come into use because we are having a lot of demands now for seed paddy. I will work aggressively to ensure that we get this facility back on track.”
Meanwhile, a building at the location which is attached to the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) was noticed covered in vines and bush. “… vine is taking over the building and the former (NAREI) CEO (Chief Executive Officer) should have seen this thing being in a better state and when you go around the country these are the things we are finding out.”
Mustapha noted that he has since tasked NAREI’s new CEO, Jagnarine Singh, to ensure that the building is brought back to a proper state, “and we can have someone living here to take care of the (seed paddy) facility.”
Mustapha said that he is hopeful that within a week’s time he will be presented with the estimate and works will commence shortly after since funds have already been budgeted to specifically carry out rehabilitation works on the facility.
Stabroek News was told that there are five such facilities countrywide and the Lesbeholden location is the only one out of operation presently.
