More D&I interventions for Pomeroon communities
- In excess of $90M invested to date  

Georgetown, GINA, March 12, 2007.

Government is making further investments to boost agricultural production in farming communities of the Pomeroon River with particular emphasis on improved drainage and irrigation.
            This was highlighted during a two-day visit to the area by Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud and a team of technical officials from various agencies of the Ministry. Meetings were held with farmers of the Upper and Lower Pomeroon River to discuss operations of the two excavators which are being used to empolder farmlands and excavate new drains.  
            Minister Persaud noted that the two excavators, worth more than $60M along with the work which they have carried out to date, represent an investment by the administration of almost $90M. The machines were deployed to the area following flooding in January 2006 which severely affected agricultural activities in the Pomeroon River and other areas.
            At Lilydale, farmers of the Lower Pomeroon lauded the initiative and expressed gratitude to Government and President Bharrat Jagdeo for assisting to re-develop the agricultural sector in the Pomeroon River.
            Derek Gonsalves, Chairman of the Lower Pomeroon Management Committee, said  the excavators are being used to rebuild farms that were destroyed by flood and to develop lands for cultivation.
            Farmers requested another excavator along with a small tractor to assist in clearing their lands. They also expressed concern over the overflow of water from the savannahs into farmlands during rainy seasons and the need for a project that would establish block drainage leading directly to the river.
            Minister Persaud told farmers that Government does not have enough resources to provide another excavator and urged that the Management Committee explore the possibility of purchasing the small tractor that can be operated under the same system as the large excavator. The Ministry of Agriculture and the Regional Administration of Region Two will assist with providing fuel for its operation.  
            The Minister announced that four excavators will be procured under the Rice Competitiveness Project, one of which will be deployed to the Pomeroon to construct dams to contain the savannah overflow and to carry out the block-drain project.
            Farmers were told that a D&I Engineer will be stationed in Region Two shortly and will provide technical input and advice on proposed D&I projects for the area.
            During the meeting at Siriki, Upper Pomeroon, discussions focused on effective operation and  management of the  excavator deployed to the area. There have been difficulties with support from some farmers and the amount of unoccupied lands which is hampering progress.  
            Minister Persaud said the land issue will be discussed with the Guyana Lands and Survey Commission.
            At Charity, Minister Persaud commissioned a pontoon that will be used to transport the  excavators along the river, fulfilling a promise that was made several months ago. The pontoon will be managed by the two committees that were set up to oversee operations of the excavators and will address the problem that previously existed with respect to transportation.
            The pontoon was commissioned at the Charity Wharf during a simple ceremony.  Regional Chairman Ali Baksh, Senior Engineer of the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) Lionel Wordsworth and farmers were present.
            Minister Persaud in his address said the Pomeroon River has great agricultural potential, and assured that Government is committed to working with farmers to make their activities more viable. Farmers were told of plans to build a mini-packaging house at Charity that will cater for processing of agricultural produce from the Pomeroon and surrounding areas.
             Additionally, farmers will benefit from improved extension services under a programme currently being implemented. Approximately 100 farmers from across the country will be trained to serve as extension agents in their own communities.
            Farmers were also told that Government will expand the National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI) to better serve the needs of the sector and were urged to focus more on market-driven production. They were advised that the new Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC) is being developed to provide more market facilitation services.
            Ground provisions, citrus, fruits and vegetables such as pumpkins and peppers are cultivated in the Pomeroon River. Charity already has an export market to the Caribbean.