Overview:
The low coastal plain represents the main area agricultural activity in Guyana which lies 1.5m-1.0m below sea level and extends from Pointe Playa to the Corentyne River. The coastline is always changing because of the sea and rivers and is protected by natural vegetation; the mangrove and courida, two natural sea defences which hold the soil together. When you think of what holds our small and larger farmers’ crop, livestock and produce together it’s devastating to see how flood waters destroy their hard work after just two days of continuous rains. Preparation and result is what brings the glory to farmers, glory to see their hard work pay off when they reap the produce. Preparation and result is what would bring glory to farmers when our drainage system is given higher priority and government stop intervening in the revenue generating product selling items like rice. (See SN Business Column 15 Feb 08).
Drainage Issue
A recent reactive gesture by our government to remove all heavy equipment that was being used to clean the drainage system and manage our sugar industry to clear the Buxton backlands has now significantly increased the damage to all farmers from West Demerara to Berbice. The CEO of Guysuco recently begged the Government for new equipment to replace what was taken because it was seriously impacting the sugar crop. He is quoted as saying that most likely for 2008, Guyana will have to import sugar for the local market in order to meet their EU requirements. This illustrates the severity of the situation we face. When the Dutch built our drainage system they had an engineering plan on the flow of every canal. Today we see many filled up and no new engineering plan in place to determine if one drain or canal really leads to another in order to pump the water out. The bottom line is that only after a heavy rainfall do we see emphasis placed on this problem, never during the dry season have we seen major improvements done.
The farmers cry:
I have spoken to many farmers over the last few weeks and their plight is much more complex than I can articulate in this column.
There is excess rain and the drainage system in the nation has proved once more a failure regardless of the millions of dollars being spent with no proven results by the ministry of agriculture.
Government intervention recently in the sale of rice has led to unfair competition in the market
Many of our small farmers’ months of hard work go to waste with as little as two days of rain. Take the Mahaica flooding this week where cash crop farmers are presently under flood water with one farmer alone claiming over $200,000 in losses.
The Buxton farmers’ crops that were destroyed have now put an already depressed community in more depression.
Fuel cost which ultimately affects ingredients to farming such as pesticides has increased significantly.
Five key steps for Government to take towards being a more diversified breadbasket are:
Tax rebate for 2007 for VAT money – 2008 Budget needs to be modified to reflect this. Each taxpaying citizen should receive a minimum of $10,000- 25,000 rebate cheques by the end of March 08.
Total mobilization to help more farmers and rural communities to farm and create jobs.
Help farmers to make the transition to organic produce, which is much more profitable.
Help farmers to produce and market, especially to North America: organic Blackberries, Strawberries, Mangoes, Papayas, Pineapples, Watermelons, Sapodillas, and Passion Fruit.
Help farmers to produce cut flowers for the North American market.
Conclusion:
Many Caricom leaders have argued forcefully in recent years for the transition of their agricultural sector away from the traditional crops of sugar or rice, given prevailing market conditions, the uneconomic productive capacity of many islands and even Guyana, and the reductions in subsidies for these commodities in key international markets. The new economy of agricultural foodstuffs production is upon us in the region, we must choose the path to re-invent from rice and sugar to truly becoming the breadbasket of the Caribbean. Until next time, “Roop”.
