Several ‘neglected’ agri villages to benefit from CDF agriculture grant/loan

Several villages in Regions Four (Demerara-Mahaica) and Five (Mahaica-Berbice) will benefit from a US.4 million programme that aims at reviving their agricultural production to supply local and Caribbean markets.

Finance Minister Winston Jordan and CDF’s CEO Rodinald Soomer after signing the loan and grant agreements as Agriculture Minister Noel Holder looks on
Finance Minister Winston Jordan and CDF’s CEO Rodinald Soomer after signing the loan and grant agreements as Agriculture Minister Noel Holder looks on

The Caricom Development Fund (CDF) has approved a US$6.63 million loan and a US$3.81 million grant to facilitate infrastructural improvements in targeted small-scale farming communities, namely Mocha Arcadia, East Bank Demerara (EBD); Beterverwagting (BV)/Triumph, East Coast Demerara (ECD); Buxton, ECD, and Ithaca, West Coast Berbice.
In addition to the US$10.44 million provided by CDF, the Guyana Government has also injected some US$2 million in the programme to ensure its full implementation.
The signing of the two agreements was done at the Finance Ministry on Wednesday, where CDF Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Rodinald Soomer, explained that this programme will see significant improvements in the agricultural infrastructure within the selected communities, which have been “left uncultivated, under cultivated and underdeveloped due to inadequate access and poor drainage and irrigation.”
He noted that the money is a concessional assistance to Guyana for “… the purchase of farming equipment that will remain resident in identified communities, to finance land clearing; to restore and upgrade drainage and irrigation canals and install a pump in the specified farming communities, as well as provide technical support for targeted farmers.”
Meanwhile, Finance Minister Winston Jordan outlined that the benefiting communities have been neglected over the past years. These villages have a combined total of 1200 farmers and it is expected that some 35,000 persons would benefit from the programme.
Meanwhile, Agriculture Minister Noel Holder who was also present at the signing, pointed out that not only will the communities develop agriculturally, but economically as well.
“It is anticipated that with the improved drainage systems and access, the new farmlands will be brought under cultivation with a variety of crops and fruits being targets for production to meet the needs of the community and surrounding villages, nationally and with an eye on exports.
More importantly, this intervention will result in creased income and reduced unemployment in the targeted communities,” Holder posted.
This project comes under the Guyana Country Assistance Programme presented to the CDF and was approved within the regional organisation’s thematic priority of improving existing infrastructure and promoting investment. Guyana had previously benefited from US$11.8 million financing from the CDF for the upgrading of farm access roads in Regions Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), Four and Five.
The monies for this new project were approved since Guyana had paid in full, its assessed contribution to the fund for the second funding cycle.
The CDF provides technical assistance to countries, regions and sectors in Caricom to enhance their prospects for successful competition within the Community, and to redress any negative impact of the establishment of the Caricom Single Market and Economy.