Farmers of Buxton/ Friendship on the East Coast of Demerara will soon benefit from much-needed upgrades to their drainage and irrigation system.
A release from the Ministry of Agriculture said that Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha visited the community yesterday and met with farmers from various groups to discuss projects needed to improve agriculture in the community.
One farmer who was present at the meeting said that there was need for major improvements to the village’s drainage system. He also said that farmers’ groups should work together so that a more comprehensive approach can be taken when undertaking works in the community.
“We want to reach with other farming groups in Buxton so that we can have one body because if we are fragmented, we will not be able to utilize the little resources that are available. I hope when the engineer visits, members of the other group are made aware so that they can be a party to that visit. My impression is that most of the farmers do not understand the layout of the village and its drainage and irrigation system and how it was designed. So collectively, I think we could use the information we have available and get better results. All of the farmers did suffer from the water during the flooding. I want to suspect that there was some over-topping by the estate at Annandale and beyond the crown dam. There are about 400 acres of land beyond the crown dam that was used as a pasture. I don’t think the structure is in place for that right now. I do hope when we are addressing this the other groups are involved so that a more comprehensive approach can be taken,” the farmer said.
The release said that the farmer also told the Minister that members of the various farmers’ groups have been in discussion with officers from the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute to identify a piece of land that can be used as a demonstration plot so that farmers in the village can be taught how to properly grow and manage the cultivation of crops like ginger, turmeric, and other non-traditional crops.
Another farmer said that works were done to some extent but were discontinued abruptly in the early parts of 2019, and that since then, maintenance works on the drains have not been done.
Mustapha told residents that the Ministry, through the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority, will be working to restore the drainage and irrigation system in the village.
“Our engineer will be coming back tomorrow to do a comprehensive report with all the works that are needed. We will do the sideline trenches and all the drains in the community. Once I have that report, I will give instructions for the works to commence. I am making that commitment. If we have to send in a machine or two to do the work or get a contractor, we will do it. When the major works are completed, we will be employing community groups to do the maintenance works through the CDCs. My Ministry will work with you to develop your agricultural production”, Mustapha said.
