Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha is not happy about having to hear reports of substandard projects especially when there are engineers are tasked with ensuring quality work is done.
A release from the Ministry of Agriculture on Tuesday reported that Mustapha had ordered a “comprehensive” report on works needed in Helena, Mahaica, after visiting the area. This was in response to a group of farmers who had requested his intervention.
A farmer from Helena, Basil Jagasar, also known as ‘Bassan’, told the minister that many of the dams needed to be fixed and the canals needed to be cleared.
“We need help. We are happy that you are here today. The trench is blocked up and water going into our farms. Minister, look at this dam. Can farmers bring out produce on dams like this? It is worse at the back,” he stated.
Other farmers echoed similar concerns about the need for urgent rehabilitative works to be done on other dams in the community. They also expressed dissatisfaction with the specifications of a recently constructed bridge. The complaint was that the structure was too narrow to accommodate their farm equipment.
In response, Mustapha examined the bridge and noted that some amount of revetment works was needed for the structure to accommodate the farmers’ equipment. He also said that a report would be compiled on the issues. The regional engineers were instructed to return to the area and liaise with the farmers to produce a “comprehensive” report which the minister expects to have by tomorrow in order for works to begin.
“Also, there’s a bridge that was constructed last year as part of NDIA’s capital programme and I think that we’ll have to carry out some remedial works on it. I’ve asked NDIA to make the Bill of Quantities available so that we can closely examine the scope of the works. When we are undertaking works of this nature, we have to ensure the stakeholders are involved in these projects at some level because they are the ultimate beneficiaries,” Mustapha was quoted as saying.
The Minister expressed his disappointment with farmers having to bring reports of substandard projects to his attention when there are engineers tasked with monitoring such projects.
“I am in the process of revamping the engineering department of the NDIA to ensure the agency is more responsive and proactive. We cannot continue to do things in a haphazard way. We have to ensure that when these projects are done, they are done in a way that we can have value for the monies spent.
“These projects cost a lot of money and they have to be done according to the contractual specifications. We’ll also be focusing on the way these contractors are working. Works have to be verified by our engineers before payments are made,” Mustapha cautioned.
