Thousands of farmers and residents in Canal No. 1, Region Three, are expected to benefit from improved flood protection following the commissioning of a $650 million pump station on Wednesday.
The facility has four drainage pumps with a combined capacity of 580 cubic feet per second and will serve approximately 5,000 acres.
Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha, who commissioned the station, said the investment will help protect homes and agricultural lands while reducing the financial losses associated with flooding.
He linked the project to the government’s wider programme to modernise drainage and irrigation infrastructure and support increased agricultural production amid unpredictable weather conditions.
According to Mustapha, drainage and irrigation account for $81.9 billion, or 72.3 per cent, of the Agriculture Ministry’s $113.2 billion budget for 2026. This compares with $9 billion allocated to drainage and irrigation in 2020.
National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) Chairman Lionel Wordsworth said the Canal No. 1 facility is among six pump stations constructed in Region Three over the past six years.
The project included the installation of two additional pumps and construction of a community centre valued at approximately $60 million.
Minister within the Ministry of Agriculture, Vikash Ramkissoon, also attended the commissioning and commended the NDIA’s work in the region.
