$70M Lesbeholden seed processing facility commissioned

Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha and other officials during the commissioning of the facility (Photo: Ministry of Agriculture)

Minister Mustapha also said that the production capacity of the Black Bush Polder has improved significantly over the last four years through research and investments.

“Over the last four years, we’ve been able to transform this industry from a subsistent industry to one that now earns billions of dollars. This transformation shows clearly that the government has been making the necessary investments to develop and modernize this important industry. Many years ago, this area was the lowest-yielding area, producing just about 2.6 tonnes per hectare. Now, farmers are producing an average of 6.6 tonnes per hectare. We’ve come a long way, modernizing this industry through research and investment,” Minister Mustapha said.

Back in April 2021, Minister Mustapha visited the area and expressed his disappointment with the dormant and shabby state of the facility. The minister immediately committed to ensuring that the facility would once again become operable.

“I’m very disappointed, that since this facility was constructed, it has not been put into operation. I can’t say exactly what happened, but, after examining the equipment, I was very shocked to see the state of the dryer, the processor, and the generator. We have some money in the budget, and I’ve asked the GRDB to work along with the RPA to give us an estimate for the repairs. It is very important for us to make this facility operable because we have a lot of demands now for seed paddy. Once we rehabilitate it, many farmers will be able to benefit,” Minister Mustapha had said.

In addition to the equipment, a drying floor was also constructed to reduce instances of farmers drying paddy on public roadways.

Lesbeholden seed paddy facility is one of five such facilities in the country. (Ministry of Agriculture press release)

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