US$1.5M road linking Berbice River to Ebini Ranch commissioned

The National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) had commissioned a 17 KM road costing US$1.5M which links a crossing at the Berbice River to the Ebini Ranch.

According to a statement from the Ministry of Agriculture, the project is critical in helping with the move to bolster agriculture in the Savannahs.

“Whilst the Savannahs contain prime lands for various forms of agricultural development and investment, accessibility to these lands had been an issue for a number of years. With the completion and opening of this road, access will now be granted to those persons desirous of carrying agricultural operations inland,” the Ministry said.

The road was commissioned by subject Minister Noel Holder who according to the Ministry, stressed on the need and urgency of pressing Guyana’s agricultural base inland as opposed to on the coast where it is constantly under threat.

“The coastland is being threatened with climate change, our sea levels are rising, to maintain our drainage we have to install more and more drainage pumps, but that is not sustainable, we have to look at extending our agricultural base into the hinterland and to higher ground.” Minister Holder explained.

The newly constructed road allows direct access to the Ebini Savannahs where foreign investors are currently cultivating beans and corn with some local farmers planting watermelons, cash crops and other legumes.

In addition to this, the project also saw the construction of three concrete bridges costing roughly $28M.