Agri-Net Guyana | Overview | Agricultural Institutions | Sub-Sectors | Support Services 

Statistics | Projects and Special Programmes | News & Current Events | Links | Search

News and Current Events                              

Region Five farmers raise concerns with Agriculture Minister

GINA
September 23, 2006

Plans are on stream to open a modern abattoir in Region Five part of Government’s wider plan to invest in non-traditional produce. This would facilitate the export of beef to the Caribbean and world markets.

This was revealed when Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Other Crops and Livestock, Robert Persaud and a team of officials from the Ministry visited the Mahaicony area on September 23 and held discussion with farmers.

The programme will be a part of the revamping of National Dairy Development Programme to create a cattle industry support unit. Government’s new agricultural diversification plan will focus on the four Ps- Pumpkin, Pineapple, Plantain and Pepper.

“We see a huge market out there, in the Caribbean, the US and in the European Union,” Minister Persaud noted. He said we can facilitate the beef market by working with cattle farmers.

During the visit, the Minister met farmers at the Karamat Primary School, Mora Point, and Mortice Primary School and then stopped at Ann’s Grove, East Coast Demerara.

Minister Persaud told farmers that he is willing to work with them to assist with issues affecting them. Farmers were told that several measures are in place to streamline rice cultivation.

Extension services will be put in place to aid farmers from the time of sowing crops to reaping. These extension services includes educating farmers on maximizing their yield, by the proper usage of weedicide and insecticide as farming now has become a science, the Minister noted. He said these extension services are broad-based but are a part of a comprehensive approach for the agricultural sector.

While emphasis is placed on non-traditional crops, the traditional crop sector has being receiving continued support from Government. Special emphasis will be placed on rice through the Rice Competitiveness Project which is funded by the European Union which will help to further lower the cost of farmers borrowing capital from banks.

Farmers raised concerns about drainage since the rainy season will commence soon and suggested that a long-term solution be found. They suggested that two parallel canals be dug to aid the flow.

In responding to this problem, the Agriculture Minister said that an engineer from the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority would investigate and work along with the farmers to determine a solution.

(Government Information Agency - GINA)

Back to Top

Three major agri projects commissioned in Region Three

GINA
September 21, 2006

Government’s efforts to alleviate poverty in Regions Two and Three is gaining momentum under the Poor Rural Communities Support Services Project (PRSSP) which was developed primarily for this purpose.

Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Other Crops and Livestock, Robert Persaud today commissioned three major projects in Region Three (Essequibo Islands/West Demerara) that were undertaken at a total cost of approximately $68M.

Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud at the commissioning of a drying-floor at Vergenoegen, East Bank Essequibo built under the Poor Rural Communities Support Project (PRCSSP).

At Beribissiballi, eight miles of drainage and irrigation canal were excavated and a heavy-duty water control system constructed. This $29M project provides enhanced flood control for 1,400 acres of arable lands, which could now be utilised for the cultivation of bananas, plantains, ground provisions and other non-traditional crops.

Another $27M was spent to carry out a similar project at Lanabali. It includes excavation of six miles of D&I systems, construction of a water control system and two green heart bridges.

These works have enabled farmers to cultivate 1, 700 acres of land which was previously not suitable for this purpose due to lack of D&I. Both communities are located along the Essequibo river.

Additionally, a $15M drying floor was constructed at Vergenoegen, East Bank Essequibo and will benefit more than 250 rice farmers of the surrounding areas. It will assist farmers who cultivate 4, 000 acres of rice land to dry their paddy on the newly constructed facility rather than on the roads.

Minister Persaud said these projects are initial investments by government to stimulate further growth and attain sustainability of agriculture but, it is the farmers who must ensure that the process is successful.

Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud discussing an issue with farmers of Lanabali, Essequibo river during the commissioning of a project undertaken by the Poor Rural Communities Support Project (PRCSSP).

He noted that the PRCSSP is an executing unit of the government and it fits into the administration’s wider programme to create a better standard living for all citizens.

“It is intended to uplift the lives of those in rural communities, enhance the living standards and tackle the roots of poverty,” he said.

The Minister pointed out that government is committed to the expansion of agriculture and to ensuring that farmers conduct their activities in a profitable way. He noted that Guyana has achieved food security but it needs to serve as a catalyst in this regard in the Caribbean.

“We have the capacity to address food security. We have to prepare ourselves, our farmers and the sector through investments and projects like these which are a start that can be built on,” Minister Persaud said.

He told the farmers that government stands supportive to ensure that this goal is realised. It has been recognised that there is a need for improvement in the provision of extension services, the Minister said, and efforts are being made to restructure the delivery to farmers.

Project Manager of the PRCSSP, Sasenarine Sigh highlighted the aim of the Project which brings enhanced interventions into the lives of farmers to increase production while reducing production costs.

He noted that the execution of projects such as those at Beribissiballi and Lanaballi will enable farmers’ produce to be processed at the packaging facility to be constructed at Parika. This project is estimated to cost $200M and will have facilities to wash, clean, wax and cool-store fresh fruits and vegetables for export.

Beneficiaries of the various projects expressed their gratitude for the development in their respective areas.

Rajpattie Persaud of Lanaballi said farmers including herself will be able to cultivate more produce and at cheaper costs.

Deonarine Sookoo, also of Lanabali, said the project will be very beneficial since it would allow farmers to transport their produce from the farms to the market easier via boats, which would take lesser time.

Bibi Jamila Munir of Vergenoegen explained that rice farmers have been in need of the drying floor for quite some time and are very happy. Starting from tomorrow, farmers will be utilizing the facility.

Officials from the Regional Administration of Region Three including Regional Chairman, Esau Dookie and representatives from the PRCSSP were present during the commissioning.

The PRCSSP is being executed at a cost of US $16.5M and is designed to alleviate poverty in Regions Two and Three by enhancing productivity and capacity of farmers and rural entrepreneurs.

(Government Information Agency - GINA)

Back to Top

Agriculture Minister, stakeholders in discussion on way forward for WUAs

GINA
September 19, 2006

Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud today met members of Water Users Associations (WUAs) to assess their operations and to discuss and find solutions to issues affecting them, as part of efforts to ensure their effective operation.

Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Other Crops and Livestock Robert Persaud addressing a Water Users Association (WUA) meeting held on September 19 at the Ministry’s Boardroom.
(A GINA/Amarnath Ram photo)

Establishment of WUAs in Regions Two, Three, Four and Six was done under the US$16.5M Agricultural Support Services Programme (ASSP), which targets further agricultural development.

Other stakeholders involved in the ASSP were present at the meeting including Project Manager of the ASSP, Bernard Carter and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dindyal Permal.

Minister Persaud said government is aware of the main issues affecting the WUAs and the meeting was aimed at addressing these. Delays of payments for work done by the WUAs, management and work quality were issues examined.

He reiterated that the establishment of the WUAs is a pilot project and the members must ensure that it is successfully conducted and that all matters relating to drainage and irrigation are settled for the benefit of farmers.

“I want you to use this opportunity very early to meet and discuss matters that could be addressed in a timely way so that this pilot process could move forward and we could probably have an implementation,” the Minister said.

He advised that with the upcoming end-of-year rainy season, there must be an assurance that the D&I system is effective to aid farmers and that the risk of flooding could be minimised.

Carter said the collection of taxes by the WUAs is another serious issue that needs clarification while the WUAs are given small contracts by the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) to carry out certain works.

General Manager of the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB), Jagnarine Singh noted that a public awareness programme is being conducted by the GRDB which will clear up the misconceptions about the WUAs. A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed between GRDB and the Ministry of Agriculture in this regard.

He said GRDB is conducting farmers’ training and to date 11 demonstration plots have been established. Overall, 19 plots were scheduled for establishment but, due to some difficulties this was not possible.

General Secretary of the Guyana Rice Producers Association (RPA), Dhanramkumar Seeraj said awareness and knowledge of how the WUAs should operate is very essential.

He noted that the players must appreciate and understand the process while the RPA stands committed to support this effort.

Secretary of the NDIA, Deonarine Shivsankar pointed out that the WUAs are past the establishment phase and now need support from the executing unit with regard to institutional strengthening.

Minister Persaud explained that a $200M supplementary budget has been prepared and submitted to the Ministry of Finance and would be presented before the National Assembly for approval, after which immediate release of payments will be made to the WUAs.

Under the civil work component of the ASSP, D&I improvement will be done in 120,000 acres in Vergenoegen/Bonasika, Den Amstel/Fellowship, Vreed-en-Hoop/La Jalousie and Canals Polder in Region 3; Golden Grove/Victoria and Cane Grove in Region 4, Black Bush Polder and Nos. 52- 74 Villages and Crabwood Creek in Region 6.

The ASSP is one of the many projects to develop the local rice industry.

(Government Information Agency - GINA)

Back to Top

Government addressing reduced paddy prices offered by millers

GINA
September 19, 2006

Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud has assured rice farmers that government is aware of the reduction in paddy prices offered by millers in some areas and is making efforts to address the issue in a collective manner.

He made these remarks while addressing a Water Users Association (WUA) meeting held today in the Ministry’s Boardroom, Vlissengen Road.

“From a government perspective, we cannot direct a miller as such, to go and pay X farmer, X amount but, there are arrangements that could me made, so that they could offer farmers a better price,” he said.

He pointed out that many times farmers are forced into situations where they have few avenues to sell their paddy profitably and that is why government has put in place an arrangement where farmers could take their paddy to mills outside of their farming areas.

As a result of this arrangement, farmers countrywide will benefit from the reduction of costs to transport paddy and rice products by 50 percent whenever they use the Transport and Harbours Department (T&HD) services. This initiative begins today.

Additionally, an extra vessel will provide services to the rice industry at the Adventure/Parika crossing. This will be effective from Thursday, September 21 and will continue every Tuesday.

These decisions follow discussions with the Ministries of Agriculture and Transport and Hydraulics and the Guyana Rice Producers Association (RPA).

Minister Persaud further stated that the RPA has been aggressive in representing this issue and that government remain committed to finding an appropriate resolution.

“We will continue to monitor the situation in that regard to see what interventions we can make working with everyone, even the millers and the exporters in ensuring that at the end of the day farmers can get a good deal,” the Minister said.

(Government Information Agency - GINA)

Back to Top

If you have any questions or comments, please contact "guyagri@hotmail.com"

Agri-Net Guyana | Overview | Agricultural Institutions | Sub-Sectors | Support Services 

Statistics | Projects and Special Programmes | News & Current Events | Links | Search