The Agriculture Ministry’s National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) has issued an invitation for bids totalling $619,750,000 million for the empoldering of farmlands (bed and drain) for several areas in both the upper and lower Pomeroon River, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam).
These areas include Picker’s Gill & Arapiarco, Abrams Creek & Warapana, Siriki, and Dredge Creek at an estimate of $340,300,000 as well as Jacklow at a cost of $55,800,000 in the Upper Pomeroon area. Meanwhile, work will be done in areas such as Cocker Canal, Martindale Strong, and Hope Canal at $186,400,000 and Hackney Canal, Akawini Front/Creek/Trial for a cost of $37,250,000 in the lower Pomeroon area.
Interested and eligible bidders may inspect the bidding documents and obtain further information from the procurement unit of the NDIA during normal working hours. The tender document may be purchased for a non-refundable fee of three thousand dollars ($3000) each and must be deposited in the tender box at the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) no later than 09:00h on Tuesday, May 23.
Promise made
During a telephone interview with this publication on Sunday, the Chairman of Region Two, Vilma De Silva shared that this project comes following a promise made to a group of farmers by President Dr Irfaan Ali during a previous visit to the area.
“It was a commitment made by His Excellency to assist five-acre small farmers with [the] lifting of the banks. This was a request during one of his outreaches and when he came, persons requested that. Those works will commence shortly,” De Silva shared.
She added that this initiative will benefit approximately 500 five-acre farmers throughout the areas listed above.
Empoldering means to make land that is underwater or periodically flooded, cultivable by the erection of banks of levees to prevent or control inundation by adequate drainage.
During a recent visit to Marlborough village, Region Two on Thursday last, President Ali met with several residents and farmers, where he announced that some 550 farmers in the Pomeroon River will soon benefit from the provision of elevated beds and two mini excavators.
The Head of State also indicated the provision of elevated beds and excavators is a crucial step towards enhancing agricultural productivity and improving the livelihoods of the farmers residing along the Pomeroon River.
“We are investing in infrastructure to ensure that you have the support,” he affirmed.
He further highlighted that since assuming office in August 2020, the Government has made significant agricultural investments in the Pomeroon totalling over $2 billion.
“That is more than $2 million per household and that is only for agriculture, I’m not talking about education, about the grants,” he said.
