The Mahaica, Mahaicony, Abary Agricultural Authority (MMA/ADA)is waging a “back-to-the-wall” battle to save cattle, sugar, rice and other agricultural crops in Region Five, an MMA release has said. Chairman Rudolph Gajraj in outlining the dire straits of agricultural production in Region Five last week spoke about some of the interventions the MMA/ADA was making despite the fact that the main source of supply, the Abary Conservancy, is 2.75 feet below dead storage level.
He noted that in the Abary/Berbice block there are 39,500 acres of rice under cultivation in different stages, over 30,000 head of cattle have to be watered and there are about 2,300 acres of cash crops. But the Abary Conservancy which provides water for this block is currently at the level of 56.75 GD, which is 2.75 feet below its dead storage level (DSL – 59.5 GD). Meanwhile, the chairman stated, the MMA/ADA is fighting back in the Abary/Berbice block by reducing the extraction from the conservancy to a rate that should see the dwindling supplies lasting through to March 15. The authority has also instituted a total shutdown of the drainage system in this block and GuySuCo’s Blairmont Estate will have to conserve supplies and manage with lower water levels. Moreover, they have been advised not to do any new planting until the situation improves. Cattle farmers will continue to get supplies pumped from the main canal and those on the left bank will pump from the upper Abary River above the rice areas. With pasture feed now a problem, the release noted, supplemental feeding is urgently required.