$110M rehabilitated Onverwagt farm to market road commissioned
DPI, Guyana, Thursday, February 20, 2020
The $110Million rehabilitated Onverwagt farm to market road in West Coast Berbice will now provide farmers in the area with hassle-free access to 40,000 acres of rice land and 10,000 heads of cattle.
The road was commissioned today by Minister of Agriculture Hon. Noel Holder.
It is expected to result in lower production and transportation costs during the harvesting and land preparation periods for farmers.
Before the road was upgraded, during the rainy season, the road would become impassable making it difficult for farmers and residents living along the banks of the Abary River to travel.
Kevis James a rice and cattle farmer explained that “it was very bad, you could not get access to your farm but right now, no problem about it.”
Minister Holder said the 2.1 km of road speaks to more than just the development of agriculture in the region. He noted that roads like these are extremely important to get the necessary equipment to farms and bring produce out during both wet and dry seasons. But also, to push our whole development effort in other areas like eco-tourism.
He further explained “we want to be able to drive along and see these lovely rice fields all the way from here to the conservancy. We want to be able to have at the conservancy itself eco-tourism possibilities, guest houses right by the Abary area where people can go and do fishing and spend weekends.”
The rehabilitation of the road was facilitated by the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority and was executed by Shereaz Bacchus General Contractor. NDIA CEO, Frederick Flatts said that the hope is to continue the road to the Berbice River based on budgetary allocations.