Agri Minister inspects MMA / ADA structures

Georgetown, GINA, April 24, 2008

Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud yesterday visited the Mahaica Mahaicony Abary Agricultural Development Authority ( MMA/ADA) water conservancy and other drainage and irrigation structures managed by the authority to familiarise himself with the Authority’s operations and to verify reports received.
            Accompanying the Minister on the visit were Chairman, Region Five Harrinarine Baldeo, Chairman, MMA/ADA, Rudolph Gajraj, General Manager MMA/ADA Aubrey Charles and other Regional and Ministry officials.
            Minister Persaud said that he visited the conservancy dam to ensure that the water in the conservancy does not rise past 74 GD ( Georgetown datum) thus preserving the integrity of the dam while preventing overtopping.

    Agri Minister Robert Persaud inspect MMA ADA systems. 

At the end of the visit the Minister said that he was happy to see the conservancy functioning at full capacity and adequately coping with the additional rainfall that the area has been receiving.
            He said that Government investment of over $200M to maintain the system for this year is to ensure that farmers can produce to the maximum. He said that Government’s initiatives to assist farmers over the years is now benefiting Guyana as high rice prices on the world market is the incentive for production.
   Agri Minister Robert Rersaud (with hat) and other MMA Officials at the MMA spill-ware.

The first crop for this year, he said, has seen an increase in the amount of land country-wide coming under cultivation and this resulted in the increased production. The work being done on the drainage system will allow, for the first time, over 90 percent of the lands in the MMA/ADA areas being under cultivation.
            The Minister used the opportunity to appeal to the farmers to fulfill their obligations to the Authority since the money is needed to maintain the infrastructure to ensure adequate drainage and irrigation of the farm lands.

            Gajraj highlighted the importance of the drainage systems when it was observed that the conservancy was at its maximum capacity which is unusual for this time of the year.                  
            Minister Persaud after touring the drainage structures met with farmers in the area where they raised matters of concern to them. The Minister advised of possible steps to be taken to solving some of the problems and where he had the authority gave directions to the relevant officer. 
            The visit to the area is part of the initiatives of the Minister since taking up the Agriculture portfolio, Wednesdays are set aside to meet and discuss issues with farmers trying to find solutions to keep the industry viable.

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