Farmers along the Pomeroon River, in Region Two will now benefit from improved drainage in the various communities.
A Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) release yesterday stated that the minister, Zulfikar Mustapha, along with other officials of the MoA and the Regional Democratic Council commissioned two long-reach excavators and a pontoon valued at over $104.5 million.
The release informed that this equipment forms part of the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority’s (NDIA) capital programme for 2021. The contract for the construction of the pontoon was awarded to VR Construc-tion for $44.5 million while the excavators were supplied by Guytrac to the tune of $60 million.
Upon assuming office, the minister had met with farmers in the region who made requests for equipment to assist with developing the necessary infrastructure to improve drainage in the areas. They also asked for a pontoon to operate along the river to assist with carrying out works along the river.
At the commissioning ceremony, Mustapha noted that since assuming office, the government has been working to put the necessary infrastructure in place to ensure farmers can produce.
“We’ve made commitments. We’ve made a number of promises and, today we are delivering on one of the promises we made to the people in the Pomeroon. As a government, we have to put in the necessary infrastructure so that our farmers can produce. Prior to this August 2020, there was a decline in the sector because of the burdens placed on farmers. If our country is going to develop, if our agriculture sector is going to develop, farmers have to make a big contribution. These pieces of equipment are only the beginning. We will continue to make the necessary investments to improve farming in the Pomeroon. I want to urge you when these pieces of equipment go into operation, please use them with care and for the benefit of the community.”
He also told farmers that a work programme will be developed after which a management committee comprising farmers and other officials will be established to guide and monitor the operations of the machines.
And as part of the government’s overall drainage improvement efforts for the region, Mustapha disclosed that the ministry, through the NDIA, will be constructing pump stations at Charity and Andrews, and a sluice at Capoey, as well as carrying out rehabilitation works at the pump station at Cozier.
NDIA Board Chairman, Lionel Wordsworth, who was also in attendance, said the newly acquired machinery will enable the NDIA to carry out additional river defence works along the Pomeroon River.
“Currently, we have contracts awarded to do 22 miles of embankment and channels in the lower Pomeroon and 25 miles in the upper Pomeroon. With these pieces of equipment, we will be able to do an additional 38 to 40 miles minimum annually along the Pomeroon River. This will add to the overall work programme that we have ongoing in the Pomeroon.”
He further disclosed that as it relates to the dredging of the Pomeroon River mouth, a contract has been awarded and the necessary surveys to determine the exact alignment for the dredging operations were almost completed.
Those farmers present expressed their gratitude for the timely investment and echoed the minister’s call for the effective management of the new equipment.
One farmer said he recalled discussing the need for such machinery to service the communities along the Pomeroon River with the minister and was pleased to see the government delivering on its promises. He urged his fellow farmers to care for and protect the machinery and to cooperate with the management committee for the benefit of all farmers, the release added.
