Agricultural diversification programmes ongoing

Georgetown, GINA, December 4, 2007

The agriculture sector continues to improve as Government’s diversification thrust is given more emphasis and additional areas are identified for development. More spending in the sector reflects the increased focus on maintaining and operating existing infrastructure including lands for cultivation and development of new infrastructure and to address the diversification programme.
            The Mid-Year Report 2007 presented to the National Assembly by Minister of Finance Dr. Ashni Singh stated that this year’s allocation to the sector in the national budget was $7 billion and for the first half of the year, $2.5 billion was spent reflecting a $0.5 billion increase over the same period of the previous year. 
            In an effort to increase production and exports in a systematic, market-driven approach, three main clusters have been identified for development: fruits and vegetables and beef and aquaculture. The development of these key clusters is critical to the sector’s diversification drive.
            The existing coastal drainage and irrigation systems continue to be challenged, not only by surrounding waters but also from higher than normal levels of rainfall and the cost of maintenance and expansion of infrastructure continues to climb.
            Outlays in drainage and irrigation resulted largely from increased maintenance and increased investment in the form of acquisition of additional drainage and irrigation equipment necessary to combat the incidence of flooding of the main coastal and agricultural areas, resulting from changing weather patterns.
            In the continued effort to maintain, rehabilitate, expand and modernise the country’s infrastructure such as roads, bridges, sea defences, air and river transport and power, Government budgeted $10.1 billion for 2007 of which $4.1 billion was expended during the first half. Of the $10.1 billion, $5.3 billion was budgeted for maintenance and construction of roads, $1.2 billion for maintenance and construction of bridges, $1.4 billion for sea and river defences, of which $2 billion, $0.2 billion and $0.5 billion were expended respectively at the half year. 
            In particular, $229 million was spent representing 80 percent of construction works completed on the extension of the four-lane road from the Demerara Harbour Bridge to the National Stadium at Providence, East Bank Demerara and $420 million was spent for the installation of traffic lights in and around Georgetown.
            Of the 50 targeted traffic lights, 47 were successfully installed and operationalised at various intersections within Georgetown. Unfavourable weather conditions in the first half of the year affected infrastructure work however, during the second half of the year it is expected to accelerate towards the full achievement of the planned work programme. 
            Construction works re-commenced on both sides of the Takutu bridge. Also, a technical cooperation agreement to conduct a feasibility study on options to improve the overland link from Bon Fim in Brazil to Linden in Guyana was signed in August 2007. In anticipation of the completion of the bridge, work on the Lethem multipurpose building continued apace.
            This facility will provide accommodation for departments such as Immigration, Customs, Police and Health.  In addition, works on two other key bridges proceeded as planned. Components of the Berbice River Bridge arrived in the country and assembling and construction of the approach road to the Bridge started.
            At the Demerara Harbour Bridge, replacement of defective deck plates was done and resurfacing was expected to commence thereafter.
            Infrastructure to support air transport saw the upgrade of the electrical system and additional provision for the installation of a new conveyor belt at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) to a value of $17 million while expenditure on maintenance of domestic aerodromes amounted to $8 million at the half year.
            During the first half of 2007, $220 million was spent to upgrade the maritime infrastructure. The procurement and the acquisition of spares for dredging, and for ships and ferry vessels was also completed while rehabilitation works commenced on the New Amsterdam Ferry Stelling. 
            At the end of June 2007 works continued on sea defences in areas such as Capoey/Columbia, Tuschen, Meten-Meer-Zorg/De Kinderen, and Hague in Region Three while works were completed at Profit/Foulis/Belladrum, West Coast Berbice.

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