- farmers, youth, single parents to benefit from Black Belly Sheep, Plantain suckers, ‘bed and
drain’ programmes - 40 cusec pump to be installed to assist with D&I
Farmers from Mocha and other surrounding communities on the East Bank of Demerara are set to
benefit from additional inputs to further develop their agricultural activities.
This was disclosed by Agriculture Minister, Hon. Zulfikar Mustapha during a ministerial meeting on
Wednesday.
Minister Mustapha along with several other Cabinet Ministers visited the community to follow up on
commitments made by Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo during a meeting earlier in the week.
While engaging farmers and residents during a community walkabout, Minister Mustapha said that the
government has been working assiduously to improve agriculture in Mocha. He also said that the
ministry has several ongoing programmes to boost production in the cultivation areas.
“This is one of the areas receiving a fair share of assistance from the Ministry and the government and
we will continue to work with you to develop the agriculture sector here. Since our first visit, farmers
have benefited from better breeds of swine, black giant birds, and improvements to the drainage and
irrigation systems in their farms. Currently, two excavators are working in the area to clear internal
drains. To date, twenty-seven internal drains have been cleared and that programme will continue. We
are also working with farmers to execute a bed and drain programme. In the first phase, approximately
thirty-five farmers will benefit from land clearing and infrastructural work to lift their beds and clear
drains in the cultivation area. So far, about twenty-seven farmers have already benefited from that
programme,” he explained.
Minister Mustapha also said that the commitment made by President Irfaan Ali to have a drainage pump
permanently installed in Mocha will be fulfilled soon.
“When the President came here, he said a pump will be installed permanently in this community. We
have procured that pump and within a month, it will arrive and we’ll install it. We’ll also continue to
upgrade a number of canals in this area. We’ll work with the residents so that they can benefit from
those contracts. That way they can earn for their families and also ensure the work is done satisfactorily
because they will be the beneficiaries,” Minister Mustapha said.
He also said that a tractor pump and other inputs such as planting materials and livestock would be
given to farmers.
“In conjunction with the Ministry of Local Government, approximately 100 tractor pumps were procured
to assist farmers with drainage. Within a week, one will be given to the farmers from Mocha. We will
also continue to work with farmers to develop the Black Belly Sheep, and Black Giant bird programmes.
Youths and single mothers will also benefit from these programmes. So, you see we are working and
making the resources available to the people of this country because we want to be food secure,” he
added.
Minister Mustapha also disclosed that by the end of next week, approximately five hundred plantain
and banana suckers will be distributed to farmers in the area.
