Several initiatives underway to expand agriculture on EBD
- focus on farmers’ support

Georgetown, GINA, February 23, 2008.

Government continues to pursue investments and interventions that will help farming communities such as those along the East Bank Demerara to realise their full potential in keeping with the administration’s vision for expanded agricultural development.
            This was highlighted today by Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud during meetings with farmers and residents at Garden of Eden, Friendship, Craig and Mocha Arcadia as part of his continuing outreaches to farming areas across the country.
Minister Persaud addresses farmers at Garden of Eden.          

  Acting Chief Executive Officer of the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) Lionel Wordsworth, Chief Crops and Livestock Officer Brian Sears, Region Four Vice Chairman Mohamed Khan and Regional Executive Officer Shafdar Alli were among those who accompanied the Minister.
            Minister Persaud said although significant interventions are made such as improved drainage and irrigation and extension services, there is still need for more to be done in East Bank Demerara communities since it is recognised that more persons are becoming involved in agricultural activities and more lands are being cultivated.
            “I appreciate the enthusiasm demonstrated by farmers along the Esat Bank Demerara and this would encourage us at the Ministry of Agriculture to overcome the constraints, it highlights the need for us to collaborate more with the NDCs (Neighbourhood Democratic Councils) and the Regional body in ensuring that farmers get the support and attention that is required in the drive to expand agriculture particularly the focus on diversification, to take up marketing opportunities in the region and beyond,” Minister Persaud said.
            He noted that this increased interest by farmers requires sustained and expanded interventions such as drainage and irrigation and thus the Minister’s meeting was intended to seek new ideas and suggestions from farmers although several activities are ongoing.
            At present, two excavators, which have been deployed from NDIA, are working to enhance D&I in Mocha to support farmers’ current activities, ensure that the risk of flooding is minimized and to develop new lands for cultivation.
Minister Persaud in discussion with farmers at Craig.

  Several East Bank Demerara communities such as Mocha and Craig have been identified and will be targeted under the Rural Enterprise Agricultural Development Project (READ), which will be undertaken at a cost of approximately US$6M. Focus will be placed on working with farmers’ group to develop market systems, enhance extension services and the provision of materials and other support to make farmers’ activities more successful.
            “It is filling certain gaps in terms of services and requirements that these communities need in fully realizing their potential. Some of these communities started agriculture 20 to 25 years ago, but they have not been getting the impetus that they need. So we do hope that as result of the agricultural diversification projects, the opportunities which are much more now will be fulfilled,” Minister Persaud noted.
            During the meeting at Garden of Eden, farmers were informed of ongoing efforts by the Ministry to improve animal breeding stocks including the pig breeding programme underway at the Guyana Defence Force farm in the area.
            Discussions were held on various D&I issues in the respective communities during which decisions were made for the matters raised to be addressed by the NDIA, Regional Administration or NDCs.
            It was noted that efforts will be made to set up farmers’ committees to monitor D&I structures along the Esat Bank Demerara since there were complaints about the timely operations of kokers and sluices in some villages.
Minister Persaud interacts with farmers at Mocha.

    In addition, reference was made to ongoing investments by Government to re-activate structures and systems that were closed by the previous administration in the 1970s and 1980s. The need for these structures and systems to become operational has increased with the effects of climate change and expanded agricultural activities by more persons.

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