Georgetown: The Ministry of Agriculture today received a drone which will be used to help combat climate change. The drone was donated by Dr. Anthony Cummings on behalf of the University of Texas at Dallas, U.S.A.
The handing over of the equipment took place at the Ministry of Agriculture’s Board Room, Regent Street and was received by the Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Sydney Allicock. This was done after the said University signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Guyana. The drone will be used it to manage the growth of mangroves along the coast, measure the amount of rainfall in Guyana’s forest while at the same time measuring the amount of carbon in those areas.
The drone is to be utilised by the National Agriculture Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) for their Restoration of Mangroves project, and also by the Hydro-Metrological Department of the Ministry of Agriculture for rain measurement.
Speaking at the handing over ceremony, Minister Allicock stated, “There is a worldwide cry for climate, and we have already developed a strategy of LCD (Low Carbon Development). It is at this point where a project such as this is being launched in Guyana is of great importance to all of us.”
He also applauded the efforts that are being made to bridge the gap between the coast and the hinterland. “Mangrove coverage and being in the interior is the way to go. This programme will also be able to give the hinterland communities the ability to plan better in terms of cultivation,” the Minister said.
During the handing over,NAREI’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr. OudhoHomenauth noted that the monitoring of mangroves is a very tedious process. He pointed out that with the use of the drone, it will become easier to monitor the mangroves regularly.
Dr. Homenauth also pointed out that the use of the equipment will not only be limited to the monitoring of mangroves, but also will soon be used to observe rice fields and fishery.
Training will also be done to help officers using the drone to understand and interpret the data collected. The project is set to commence at Greenfield on the East Coast, and Surama and Wowetta in Region Nine.
The drone costs an estimated US $1,200 to be assembled. Dr. Cummings noted that government can expect more drones in the future as they are ‘definitely needed’. Another drone will be handed over in February.
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