AGRI MIN Engages Reg Six Farmers on Development Initiatives

November 4 2024 – Over the weekend, Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha held an outreach in Region Six, where he announced key initiatives aimed at advancing agriculture in Upper Corentyne.

Meeting with local farmers, the Minister facilitated the creation of an Implementation Committee to streamline land usage and expedite agricultural activities.

This committee, led by Regional Vice Chairman Zamal Hussain, includes members from the Water Users Association, the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA), the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB), and local farmers. The group will also monitor regional pumps to ensure efficient water management.

Minister Mustapha continued his outreach at the Albion Sports Complex, where he met with shrimp farmers to discuss advancements in the brackish water shrimp project along the Corentyne Coast.

Since government intervention, shrimp production has surged from 9,000 kg to approximately 98,000 kg per month.

The project’s first phase, supporting 80 small, medium, and large-scale shrimp farmers, is nearing completion, with an additional 45 farmers set to receive assistance for pond development. Last year, Region Six shrimp farmers generated earnings of $1.8 billion, highlighting the impact of these collaborative efforts on local livelihoods and the region’s economy.

(Source – Ministry of Agriculture)