Farmers from the Upper Corentyne area will soon commence several projects to bring all available land into productive use, further boosting the region’s production.
Approximately 30,000 acres of land including privately held areas near Moleson Creek in Upper Corentyne were earmarked for infrastructural development for agriculture-related activities.
During a meeting with farmers on Saturday, Agriculture Minister, Hon. Zulfikar Mustapha officially formed a committee to manage the implementation of the programme.
Last October, Minister Mustapha accompanied Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo to the Upper Corentyne to meet with farmers to discuss the government’s developmental plans for the area. The Vice President disclosed that the government had allocated $2 billion in the budget for infrastructural development aimed at enhancing land productivity.
While in the region, Minister Mustapha set up the committee which comprises representatives from Coops and private cane farmers in the Upper Corentyne area.
He disclosed that the private cane farmers had approximately 10,000 acres of while the various Coops from the area had varying amounts, totaling approximately 30,000 acres.
He explained that while some farmers indicated that they wanted to recommence cane farming, other farmers expressed interest in other areas.
“Some farmers indicate that they want to go back to cane, some farmers indicated that they want to start planting corn, while some are looking at the other crop that we want to start, like hemp. So, we want to start work as soon as possible. This project is long in the making so I am looking to start from the Upper Corentyne side, Molsen Creek end coming down. Some of the farmers wanted to start back growing cane because, you know, we started to do cane cultivation once again at Skeldon. This year, we will plant 1,500 hectares. By next year we’re looking to plant up to 5,000 hectares, but we have to start the program” he explained.
Three private cane farmers along with representatives of coops from El Dorado, Landless, Leeds Pioneer, Baba Grant, Friendly Farmers, Babylon, Hunter’s Scheme, and Johannesburg were appointed to serve on the committee. Senior officers from the Guyana Rice Development Board, the Guyana Livestock Development Authority, the National Agriculture Research and Extension Institute, and the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority will also have roles in the committee.
The committee will be chaired by the Ministry’s Director General, Madanlall Ramraj.
Minister Mustapha also established another committee to oversee the operation of various pumps in the region. This committee will be chaired by Regional Vice Chairman, Zamal Hussain, and comprises representatives from the Water Users Associations, the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority, the Guyana Rice Development Board, and local farmers (Ministry of Agriculture press release)
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