Over $1.1B in contracts signed to advance agri sector

Five agencies attached to the Agriculture Ministry on Wednesday signed 21 contracts totalling $1,130,817,572 to advance the Government’s agricultural agenda.
Of the contracts signed, Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) is set to receive $532 million; National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) will receive $504 million, Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC) will get $1 million, Mahaica- Mahaicony-Abary Agricultural Development Authority (MMA/ADA) will receive $27 million, and the Fisheries Dept will get $15 million.
Seven contracts were signed by GuySuCo for the supply of critical equipment and other materials, while NDIA signed 13 contracts that will see the construction and rehabilitation of infrastructure. Other contracts were signed by the New GMC, the Fisheries Department, and the MMA/ADA for the supply of materials, construction, and the provision of services.

“Let us ensure that the projects commence on time. Let us do it to the standard that is in the contract. Let us ensure that we abide by all the rules, so that everyone will be satisfied,” Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha said during the signing on Wednesday.
The Agriculture Minister added that this is the Ministry’s second contract-signing for the year, and he anticipates the early commencement of the listed projects, as they received no objections when brought forth to the Cabinet in the previous week.
Among the projects are the NDIA-led $43,916,800 rehabilitation of 16 pontoons; 10 pumps and 10 excavators for Regions Two to Ten. This is aimed at assisting over 25,000 farmers and residents countrywide.
Also signed was a contract for the $69,875,000 rehabilitation of Access Road at Onderdeeming Phase 11, Essequibo Coast, Region Two, that will benefit over 12,000 households and open up access to new areas which can be cultivated.
Seeking to tremendously increase rice production in the latter half of the year, MMA received $26,971,000 for the supply and delivery of crusher run, a construction material.
“With the additional support that we are putting into MMA, we are hoping that for the second crop of 2023, we can increase acreage [from 75,000 acres] to 105,000 acres,” Mustapha said.
Contractors under GuySuCo have received the bulk of the Ministry’s contract, with Game Equipment receiving $165,882,569 for the supply and delivery of tractors, and General Marine Company receiving $224,291,049 for the procurement of drainage tubes aimed at improving drainage on the fields.
Aiming to expand the aquaculture industry, Engineering Construction Company received the $3,500,604 contract to construct the eastern fence at the Satyadeow Sawh Aquaculture Station, while Mohamed Ramjohn Contracting received the $12,679,391 contract to construct the external bond, washroom, guard hut and Access Road for the Fisheries Department in Anna Regina.
The Agriculture Minister reiterated the Government’s commitment to improving food security across the country, highlighting the aforementioned efforts to advance the agricultural sector.
“We are working very seriously to enhance production of traditional crops and activities, and at the same time, we are going into new areas,” Mustapha said.
These new areas include the recent expansion of corn and soya bean production, increase of shade house activities, and swine production and the “revolution” within the livestock industry of rising embryo transplants and artificial insemination.
The Agriculture Ministry was allocated $33.2 billion in Budget 2023.