Canada launches Gy$20M projects for Berbice farmers

TIMES INT'L

The High Commission of Canada on February 14 launched two pilot projects aimed at addressing some of the effects of flooding on agricultural productivity and the livelihoods of farmers in Region Six.

The projects were launched by Raymond Drouin, Charge d’affaires and head of the Development Cooperation unit of the Canadian High Commission.

The beneficiaries are the Central Corentyne Farmers Group and the Bush Lot No 43 Village Development Group. The projects are designed to reduce the risk of damage caused to crops from floods and droughts, thereby increasing farm productivity and uninterrupted earnings for the farmers and their families.

Funding for the projects was provided through the Caribbean Disaster Risk Management Fund (CCDRMF), to the tune of Gy$10 million each. Both groups of beneficiaries produced their projects through partnership efforts, and are supported with ongoing technical advice and guidance, project management, as well as logistic support offered by the Canadian Hunger Foundation (CHF).

Key components of the project are the redesign of the internal field and secondary drainage infrastructure on farms to reduce the effects of water-logging on crop production, establishment of a nursery to produce seedlings for farmers, raising of cultivation plots, and installation of drainage outlets to enhance irrigation efficiency on farmlands in the communities that are affected by flooding in Central Corentyne and Bush Lot.

The government of Canada said it is pleased to support groups and entities in Guyana that are engaged in the sustainable management of the environment.

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