The Ministry of Agriculture has strengthened its efforts to improve drainage and irrigation in Regions Five and Six with the handover of machinery valued at approximately $127 million.
Minister of Agriculture, Hon. Zulfikar Mustapha, led the presentation today, delivering two mini excavators to the Mahaica-Mahaicony-Abary/Agricultural Development Authority (MMA-ADA) at Onverwagt, West Coast Berbice.
As part of the initiative, two mini excavators were handed over to the Black Bush Polder Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC), and the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) in Region Six received two mini excavators and one long boom excavator during a ceremony at Tarlogie on the Corentyne.
The equipment, procured under the Ministry’s Flood Risk Management Project, is aimed at enhancing the region’s capacity to manage drainage and irrigation which is vital for both flood prevention and agricultural productivity.
Minister of Agriculture, Hon. Zulfikar Mustapha.
Speaking at the ceremony, Minister Mustapha assured residents that the newly acquired machinery will play a crucial role in executing essential drainage and irrigation works across the MMA-ADA scheme and in communities such as Black Bush Polder and several others along the Corentyne coast.
While emphasizing the importance of public works, the Minister stated that priority will be given to community projects before any private requests. “The first set of work from Monday will be in the Cromarty to Philippi area. We have to prioritize and establish a program, and no NDC or individual has the authority to remove these machines without approval. We must ensure that work gets done in areas that are suffering,” Minister Mustapha asserted.
He also acknowledged that not all canals can be addressed simultaneously. “Let us prioritize the main canals and dams so that within a month, we can address the critical areas that need immediate attention. I am officially handing over these machines to the RDC, which will oversee their operation, not the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA),” he added.
The two excavators handed over to the Black Bush Polder NDC will be used to support drainage and irrigation efforts in Lesbeholden, Mibicuri, Johanna, and Yakusari. The additional mini excavators provided to the RDC will be utilized in various NDC areas across the Corentyne to clear interlocking drains and desilt community drainage systems.
Present at the handover ceremony were Region Six Chairman David Armogan, Regional Vice Chairman Zamal Hussain, and Regional Executive Officer Narindra Persaud, all of whom acknowledged the significance of the investment in supporting farmers and reducing the risk of flooding in Berbice.
