‘PLAN FOR PROSPERITY’ Gov’t to harvest 1,200 tonnes of soya beans soon – Mustapha

The government remains keen on its food security agenda and to lower CARICOM’s high food import bill by 25 per cent by the year 2025.

kitchen for its daily activities, benefiting approximately forty-four (44) students nine (9) teachers and eleven (11) ancillary staff.

The teachers present at the time of the solar PV system’s installation expressed their gratitude for the initiative, stating that it will allow them to better utilise the school’s services and provide better learning opportunities for the students.

GEA’s Engineer provided training to six female personnel at the facility on the operation and maintenance of the system.

As a result, the government continues to encourage the cultivation of new crops and varieties, value-added production, and climate-smart agriculture to achieve this goal.

Intending to be self-sufficient by 2025, the PPP/C Administration remains committed to the cultivation of corn and soya bean in the intermediate savannahs.

Over $1.2 billion was allocated in this year’s budget for infrastructural development in Tacama, where soya is being widely grown.

During an outreach on

Wednesday (March 1, 2023) in Region Five, Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha highlighted that some 1,200 tonnes of soya beans will be harvested shortly. “We are seeing new crops that we have started this year. That shows our commitment to diversification in the sector. We are seeing a revolution, a change in the agriculture sector, not only rice and sugar have been dominating our country’s agriculture sector. But we are seeing growth in all of the other sectors,” the minister noted.

By 2025, the intention is to continuously increase production to cover at least 25,000 acres.

This crop will be used for the creation of livestock feed. Guyana imports close to US$30 million in feed materials annually.

Access to the area was improved in 2022 with the construction of 40 kilometres of road, with the remaining seven kilometres to be completed this year.

The construction of the first storage and drying facility for corn and soya bean is expected to be completed within the first quarter of this year.

Some $150 million will be invested in the construction of a wharf at Tacama foreshore, to provide critical access to the area under cultivation.

Meanwhile, Moco Moco in the North Rupununi, Region 9, is also earmarked for the production of corn and soya bean.

The government through the Ministry of Public Works has launched several road projects to improve the country’s transportation network, providing safe and reliable access to citizens.

As such, there are several ongoing road projects in various regions across the country. These projects are being carried out by various contractors and are at different stages of completion.

Lot 20-2022: Rehab of Barbina Swamp Road, Region One, is being carried out by International Imports

& Supplies to the tune of $130,137,046. The project involves the construction of a revetment, embankment, and bridge to improve the road’s overall condition. The contractor is currently driving piles and revetment, with the project at 70 per cent completion.

Lot 22-2022: Rehab of Internal Roads, Port Kaituma, Region One costs some $95,902,185 and is being carried out by United Contracting Supplies. The project involves the construction of 600 metres of rigid pave - ment, of which 300 metres of concrete works have been completed. The remaining 300 metres of concrete works are yet to be completed, with the project currently at 60 per cent.

Lot 24-2022: Rehab of Wauna Main Access, Region One is being executed by Supreme Contracting & Supplies. Currently 3 km of laterite roads in the Wauna community are being rehabilitated to the tune $51,193,800. The contractor has progressed to 80 per cent of the project works and is expected to be completed by the end of March.

Lot 7: Rehabilitation of Orealla to Kwakwani (Phase 3), Region Six is being executed by D&R Construction & Machinery Rental. The company is responsible for constructing 15 km of roadway and repairing a bridge on the Kwakwani side to the tune of $195,243,825. The contractor has completed 14 km of roadway, with the remaining 5 km to be completed.

Lot 11 – 2022: Realignment of Tiger Hill, Mahdia Main Access, Region Eight. O&O General Contracting Services is currently working on the realignment of a dangerous turn on Tiger Hill. The contractor has progressed to 90 per cent , with the final excavation ongoing. Geocells are expected to be placed and infilled.

Lot 30-2022: Rehab of Muruwa Community Roads (Phase 1), Reg Eight. Jemcorp Engineering & Imports is responsible for the bush clearing and base preparation of a 32 km road in the region . The contractor has completed 20 km of bush clearing, with the remaining 12 km to be completed. The project is progressing at 65 per cent.

Lot 13-2022: Rehabilitation of Karasabai to Yurong Paru, South Pakaraimas, Re- gion 9. Condor Construction Inc. is currently working on phase 2 of the rehabilitation. The project involves repairing 30 km of road, 3 culverts, and 2 bridges. The contractor has completed 1 of 2 bridges, with roadworks expected to commence after the completion of the bridge.

Lot 15-2022: Rehab of Barrack Retreat, Region 9. Alvin Chowramootoo Construction Services is responsible for the second phase of the project, which involves the construction of 2500 metres of concrete sidewalks in Lethem. The contractor has progressed to 50 per cent, with concrete works ongoing, although there were challenges acquiring river sand.

Lot 6: Replacement of Safety Signs and Markers from Mabura to Lethem, Region 9, being conducted by Design Perspectives.

Lot 13-2022 is a phase 2 project that aims to repair 30 km of road from Bush Mouth to Yurong Paru to Monkey Mountain in the South Pakaraimas region. The project is being carried out by Condor Construction Inc., and it is currently at 35 per cent completion. The contractor has completed one of two bridges, and roadworks will commence after the bridge is completed.

Another phase 2 project is Lot 15-2022, which involves the rehabilitation of Barrack Retreat in Region 9. The project is being carried out by Alvin Chowramootoo Construction Services, and it involves the construction of 2500 metres of concrete sidewalks in Lethem. It is currently at 50 per cent completion, but the contractor was unable to acquire river sand for concrete works. Despite this setback, concrete works are ongoing.

In Lot 6, Design Perspectives is carrying out a routine project that involves the replacement of road safety signs from Mabura to Lethem in Region 9. The project is currently at 30 per cent completion, with signs being prepared.

Lot 35-2022 is a new project that aims to rehabilitate internal roads in Kwakwani, Region 10. The project is being carried out by Ideal Engineering Service Inc., and it involves the construction of 750 metres of asphalt road. The project is currently at 35 per cent completion, with the contractor installing slipper drains. Base preparation and paving are yet to be done. The government and the private sector continue to invest in infrastructure projects to enhance the country’s economic growth.