Several agencies that come under the umbrella of the Ministry of Agriculture yesterday signed a total of 13 contracts worth some $610 million to boost the sector, according to a release from the ministry.
The release stated that the agencies, Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA), and the Agriculture Sector Development Unit’s Sustainable Agricultural Development Project (ASDU-SADP) had their representatives join the Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha for the signing ceremony. It also informed that the contracts were for the supply and delivery of several critical pieces of equipment and vehicles, as well as for the construction and rehabilitation of vital infrastructure.
Mustapha told the gathering that the ministry has been constantly signing contracts to ensure it effectively executes its responsibilities to deliver quality services to Guyanese. He added that with these new contracts, the works expected to be carried out within the coming weeks will contribute to the recapitalization and modernization of the agriculture industry.
“Yesterday we went to Parliament and the Ministry of Finance saw it fit to give us additional funds to execute programmes within this ministry. We have GuySuCo and over the last few months, there have been a lot of eyes on this agency. This is one of the most important agencies for us in terms of employment in addition to its primary role in the production of sugar. Our goal is to ensure these works that will be executed over the next few weeks will contribute to the recapitalization and modernization of the industry so that GuySuCo can move closer to that break-even mark and then, later on, become profitable.”
According to the release, GuySuCo signed two contracts with General Engineering Limited valued at $295,000,000 for the supply and delivery of mobile drainage pumps. The corporation also signed contracts with the following suppliers: General Equipment Guyana Ltd totalling $25,947,380, for the supply and delivery of eight 20-foot flat bottom aluminum boats with engines; Garnet Engineers totalling $45,177,244 for the supply and delivery of materials to retube the boiler; M Sukhai Contracting Services totalling $17,698,250 for the construction of 300 metres of light-duty revetment at the Uitvlugt Estate; and Yunas Civil and Building Construction totalling $43,281,200 for the rehabilitation of a cane gantry at the Rose Hall Estate.
Further, GLDA signed contracts with the following companies: Triple A Construction Services totalling $24,113,100 for the construction of a swine facility with a semen processing area at Mon Repos; R. Persid Construction totalling $7,049,700 for the construction of a housing facility for broiler and black giant breeders; and J&A Lumber Yard & Contracting Services totalling $3,066,250 for the construction of support for an autoclave at the agency’s veterinary laboratory.
Contracts were also signed with Beharry Automotive Limited, Marics and Company, and Farm Supplies Limited, for the supply and delivery of several motorcycles, ATVs, boats and engines; and pick-up trucks, all totalling in excess of $80 million to support the ministry’s Agriculture Sector Development Unit’s Sustainable Agricultural Development Project, the release added.
