George Henry, Gleaner Writer
SPALDINGS, Clarendon:
MINISTER OF Water and Housing Donald Buchanan has said that there will be improvements in the island's irrigation schemes during this financial year.
In an interview, he said that recently the Government approved the contracts for the upgrading of three irrigation systems Pedro Plains and Hounslow in St. Elizabeth and Sevens River in St. James.
The rehabilitation of the Pedro Plains irrigation system alone will provide additional water for more than one thousand hectares of land, benefiting some 500 farming families.
CONSTRUCTION
Mr. Buchanan said that construction of the Pedro Plains system will commence in July while the Seven Rivers project will begin in October, and the Hounslow system some time later.
In the meantime, farmers can expect an increase in the cost of irrigation water as the Government seeks to withdraw it subsidy on the same to contain its expenses.
"Government can no longer continue to subsidise that commodity," said Mr. Buchanan.
According to him, the Government owes the Jamaica Public Service Company some $20 million for electricity it had provided to pump irrigation water. However, he said the Government was unable to pay the debt because of the high costs incurred in providing the irrigation subsidy.
SUBSIDY
At present the subsidy amounts to just over $200 million, said the Minister.
"Farmers have to understand that unless they are more efficient and effective in the use of irrigation water and can produce more out of the water that they receive they are always going to be in a difficulty", said Mr. Buchanan.
He also said that an organised Water Users' Association would be established to, among other things, assist in the promotion of efficient irrigation among farmers.
