The Ministry of Agriculture inked close to $500M in contracts on Friday last to advance the works of the sector. The contracts were signed between six companies, the Ministry’s National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA), and the Agriculture Sector Development Unit (ASDU).
Guyana Standard understands that Kascon Engineering Services signed a contract totaling $58,880.860 to execute rehabilitation works on the drainage and irrigation channels in Black Bush Polder, Region Six; Khan’s Construction and Transportation Services Inc. inked a $27,071,500 contract for the execution of repairs to the intake structure located at Den Amstel, West Coast Demerara, Region Three; and Kallco Guyana Inc. signed a contract totaling $55,880,620 for the construction of a drainage channel and to activate a new sluice on the right bank of the Abary Creek in Region Five.
As part of ASDU’s Rural Agriculture Infrastructure Development (RAID) Project, two contracts were signed for the supply and delivery of tractors, trailers, and implements to assist with agricultural development in the hinterland.
Furthermore, Massy Motors (Guyana) Limited inked a contract for $186,700,000 for the supply of 28 units consisting of tractors and trailers to assist with farm-to-market transport for vulnerable communities in Regions One, Eight, and Nine; and General Equipment Guyana Inc. also inked a contract totaling $111,443,298 for the supply and delivery of a tractor, a disc plow, two roam plows, and three seed planters as part of ASDU’s RAID project.
A contract was also signed with Sheriff Security for the supply of security services for the Ministry totaling $14,227,200.
Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha while offering remarks said the structures being constructed are considered critical since they will be in areas that are susceptible to flooding. The subject Minister further stressed the need for the timely completion of projects. He also stated that the Ministry has no intention to extend contract periods as it moves towards completing its work programme for 2021.
Regarding the supply of the tractors, Mustapha explained that the equipment would be owned by the ministry but placed under the control of the various villages in the hinterland to enhance their agriculture-related transportation needs.
“Earlier this year during an outreach to the Interior I made commitments to assist the village economy by providing them with transportation. This year, we’ll be purchasing a number of tractors that will be delivered to several hinterland communities in Regions One, Eight and Nine in an effort to enhance their transportation needs. We’ve commenced consultations to carefully select communities that are most in need of these pieces of equipment. These tractors will be owned, serviced and operated by the NDIA but they will be under the control of the villages. This is a first for the Ministry,” Minister Mustapha said.
