$161M in contracts signed for Agriculture Ministry projects

…$25M Region 1 processing facility to serve 250 households

A processing facility for White Water Creek in Region One (Barima-Waini) was among the works under four contracts signed on Thursday to the tune of $161 million to continue the Agriculture Ministry’s work programme.

The $25.5 million Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC) facility contract was awarded to Supreme Contracting and Supplies. Since the community is highly vulnerable to flooding and loss of crops effected by rainfall and poor access roads, the facility will ensure that agricultural products reach a wider market. Products such as cassava bread, farine and cassareep can reach beyond the community.
Some 250 households are listed as the beneficiaries, with 67 persons directly involved in agro-processing. The facility will be completed before year end.
Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha explained, “White Water is an area that we have made a commitment there to the farmers to build this agro-processing facility. Whilst we are awarding the contract now, we have already started procuring equipment for the agro-processing facility. This shows our commitment to making our farmers’ produce value added. The agriculture sector is moving rapidly.”

Fertiliser
Meanwhile, a $96.6 million contract was signed with Cyril Singh Agricultural Enterprise Incorporated for the supply and delivery of fertilisers to the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI).
For services at the Charity Pump Station, a $21 million contract was signed with E&A Consultants. This will ensure effective implementation of construction, and enable flood control by draining in excess of 200 acres of farmland for cash crop cultivation. This will replace two mobile pumps in the area.
The fourth contract will be executed by CEMCO Inc, and involves an $18 million supervision of construction of an A-line sluice. Through enhanced monitoring of the project, the implementation timeline will be reduced by three months. Approximately 3000 acres of residential plots and farmland for cash crops and rice at Versailles and Canal Number One Polder will be impacted.
These projects are all in keeping with the Ministry’s work programme execution for 2022. On Monday, another $100 million in contracts will be signed with the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo).
Mustapha expressed, “I want contractors to ensure that they do the work according to the specification and also, execute it on a timely basis. People are looking forward.”
In July, Government sought $44.794 billion in supplementary funding for a number of programmes. Another $2 billion for operational expenses of GuySuCo was sought as part of a $3.5 billion request. This also included operational expenses for other agencies such as the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) – $1.2 billion; the Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA) – $44.1 million and the Mahaica-Mahaicony-Abary/Agricultural Development Authority (MMA/ADA) – $218.9 million.