– In Big Baiboo, surrounding communities
-by Kyler Rollins
Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha has announced a series of interventions aimed at bringing relief to farmers in Big Baiboo and surrounding communities in Region Five.
The initiatives will focus on improving drainage and irrigation, strengthening agricultural infrastructure, and boosting production through the construction of an embankment and farm to market roads.
Minister Mustapha met with farmers from the area, who raised concerns about flooding during periods of heavy rainfall.
In response, the Minister acknowledged the area’s agricultural productivity and committed to constructing an embankment, once there is agreement among the farmers.
“I want to pronounce here today that if you all agree now, I will instruct Lionel and his team to build the embankment so that we’ll avoid in this area in the future,” the minister said.
The proposed embankment will complement the Hope Canal replica currently under construction in Region Five, along with two other canals designed to discharge excess water directly into the Atlantic Ocean.
Against this backdrop, approximately $25 billion is being invested in the construction of drainage canals and related infrastructure across Regions Three, Five, and Six.
The completion of the Region 5 canals, expected by mid-2027, will make approximately 55,000 acres of land available for agricultural development, creating greater opportunities for farmers and boosting agricultural production.
“When we complete the Hope-like canal, you all have to start looking at it. Start indicating your interest. Not when I come back here two years from now people are saying they don’t have land and are renting land. New land will be coming under cultivation. Take the advantage. That is the kind of opportunity I want to give you all,” he said.
To help protect crops from flooding, Mustapha says the Government will provide machinery support to farmers in the area.
Each farmer will benefit from 27 hours of machinery operation over three days, with equipment working nine hours daily to raise planting beds and improve field conditions.
Further, several farm-to-market roads will be upgraded.
