Major infrastructural works for black belly sheep programme

…$257M contract awarded rehabilitation of all-weather road

The National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA), through the Agriculture Ministry, recently awarded a contract totalling $257,166, 500 to EPCOT Enterprise Inc for Rehabilitation of the all-weather road at Blairmont, West Bank Berbice, for the black belly sheep project which is currently being rolled out across the country.
The 4300-metre road is expected to be completed within a 12-month period.
During a telephone interview with this publication, Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha revealed that there are other major infrastructural works slated for the area, such as the construction of living quarters, fence, and more.
“You know, the President would have launched this project sometime back, and we are setting up that area. That area will be the area that the project will be rolled out in, so we have to do some infrastructural work. For example, doing the fence, doing some living quarters for some people who will be there to supervise and look after the entire operations,” the minister revealed.
He highlighted that the construction of the road will be the first step, as the Government is looking to increase the production of rice, livestock, and other crops in Region Five.
“We…first of all have to build a road, because you know Region Five, and especially the MMA Scheme…we are looking now to increase production both in livestock and rice [as well as] other crops. So, this is one part of it that we are developing in the livestock production, and there’s that part we are developing for the black belly sheep project. But not far from there also, we will have pastures and other facilities for cattle and so,” Mustapha explained.
According to the minister, the infrastructural works will not only benefit the black belly sheep programme, but also other livestock-rearing projects within the region.
“Then the infrastructure, like the road and the bridges and so, will also be used for other livestock production,” Mustapha added.
Meanwhile, the minister also revealed that just under 500 black belly sheep are expected to arrive by the end of this month, as they are currently being quarantined before being shipped.
In August last year, Guyana received the first shipment of 132 sheep – 20 rams and 112 ewes. The programme was launched with an estimated $600 million investment from the Government.
President Dr. Irfaan Ali, during the launch of the project at Onverwagt, West Coast Berbice in March 2022, had said the project is intended to pave the way for Guyana to tap into the region’s hefty food importation bill, which sees Caricom countries collectively spending some US$43 million on import of mutton alone. And even though Guyana’s food production capabilities are impressive, the country still imports approximately US$130,000 worth of mutton.
Meanwhile, President Ali is hoping that with Guyana’s projected increase in mutton production, Guyana can target markets in the Bahamas, Jamaica, Barbados, and Trinidad and Tobago.