Farmers residing in the Essequibo Islands-West Demerara Region are assured that with the installation of the PPP/C Government, their livelihoods will be improved; and the current dilapidated and unsatisfactory working conditions will be a thing of past.
This was disclosed by Minister of Agriculture, Hon. Zulfikar Mustapha, when he led his technical team to several communities within the Region Three district, on Wednesday.
Canal Numbers One and Two were among the communities visited and inspected by the team.
The need for proper drainage and irrigation at several canals was brought to the Minister’s attention; as well as the lack of water to farmlands.
One resident spoke of the terrible infrastructure on the main thoroughfare which provides access to farms.
While some of the burning issues highlighted could not have been addressed immediately given their magnitude, there were others which received immediate intervention by the Minister.
Listening to questions regarding the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), the Minister indicated that works have already begun on the revamping of the sector. He said with the establishment of a new board at the entity, the management will be reorganised to allow effective production.
Minister Mustapha said Government is committed to accomplishing every plan stated in its manifesto.
“In the Agriculture sector we have to ensure that our farmers get the kind of infrastructural work and support that are needed so that there will be massive production,” he noted.
Pointing out that the Agriculture industry is significant to the nation, the Minister stated that he will be putting all hands-on deck to safeguard food security in Guyana. He relayed too that the extension services at the Ministry of Agriculture will see major improvement.
“When I took over the Ministry, I found that there was a lack of leadership. The Ministry had no direction. Now we have to focus our attention on certain objectives. One of those objectives is to ensure that we have maximum production.”
The Minister reminded that until there is a budget in place, some issues will be addressed. He said a proposal was submitted to the Finance Ministry in preparation for an emergency budget.
“Hopefully if those projects and our estimate are granted, we will have more resources to assist our farmers,” the Agri-Minister said.
Meanwhile, the Agriculture Ministry plans to stretch its resources to make life better for farmers.
(DPI)
