Gov’t to develop integrated, sustainable drainage & irrigation strategy through US$500k project

He also said that while the project is geared towards developing a strategic sustainable integrated national drainage and irrigation system in Guyana, it will also complement efforts to move the food production systems forward in keeping with CARICOM’s Vision 25x 2025 objectives to reduce Guyana’s food import by 25% by 2025.

Among the five objectives, the project seeks to support the NDIA in the development and publication of an updated Integrated Strategy for Drainage and Irrigation (ISDI) and to enable asset monitoring and data collection systems that help the drainage authority to implement its ISDI and prioritize nature-based solutions and social inclusion in D&I systems.

Chairman of the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) Lionel Wordsworth said that the flooding Guyana experienced in 2005 exposed the vulnerabilities of the country’s coast. This, he added, led to subsequent infrastructure interventions such as the Hope Canal which proved critical and immensely valuable in recent years. The NDIA Chairman also said that through funding from the Government of Guyana, the NDIA is currently working to develop similar drainage interventions to that of the Hope Canal in other regions along the coast.

Project Manager Mr. Ronald Cumberbatch also noted that a strategy is currently being developed in collaboration with the NDIA and other stakeholders. This strategy which serves as a critical component of the project, will be completed by the end of 2024.  The technical studies and data collection activities that will provide the information to formulate the strategy have commenced.

The project which is expected to be completed by the end of March 2026, will also enable the Ministry to fulfill its objectives within the LCDS2030 and offer national strategic leadership in agricultural production and flood management. It will also facilitate capacity building for engineers attached to the NDIA.

CDRI comprises thirty-nine member countries and seven international institutions and provides technical support to projects being implemented with its funding. The second call for submission of project proposals was launched by CDRI at the 4th International Conference on SIDS in Antigua and Barbuda. The deadline for submission is the end of August 2024.

[Ministry of Agriculture Press Release]