The farmers of the north and south sections of Canal Number 2 Polder and also De Buff Village, on the West Bank Demerara are still awaiting word on compensation for losses suffered as a result of recent flooding.
Farmers say now that the canals have been cleared of the weeds and the floodwater receded after eight days, they are now left to cope with their losses, which they have estimated to be in the millions.
When Stabroek News revisited the area yesterday and spoke with some of the affected farmers, they complained that no government officials have visited the area despite several calls to have them do so. Their only consolation so far has been visits by personnel from the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI), who have been frequently visiting the area and taking the names of farmers and documenting what crops have been lost.
Last Thursday, head of National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) Lionel Wordsworth said that they were aware of the situation and interventions were made to have the farmers assisted. Efforts to contact Minister of Agriculture Leslie Ramsammy and Junior Minister Ali Baksh for a comment on possible compensation for the affected farmers have proved futile.
At Canal Number Two, Mahabal Seelochan, 68, told Stabroek News yesterday that a few years ago when they were flooded and all their crops were damaged, former President Bharrat Jagdeo had given them $50,000 as compensation. He added that it was not sufficient but they used it to start their crops again.
Seelochan, a pensioner, said that since the trench had been cleaned, the water that was submerging the fields have being draining slowly. He, however, said that all of this could have been prevented if the trenches have been cleaned on time. The man also noted that the prices of fertilizer and chemicals to maintain their crops have gone up and for them to restart production, they will have to be greatly assisted since they have lost all that they invested.
He also projected that the prices for vegetables will rise because of the impact the weather has had on production.
Seelochan’s son, Ramdial Mahabal, said that it seems like the relevant authorities do not care about them and the losses they have suffered and that he needs money to restart his planting.
“Them man like them nah care about awe….I does use chicken mole to plant and that thing expensive so I need money to start back planting,” he lamented.
Anand Lall, meanwhile, estimated that he lost about $300,000 and his lay birds have started to decrease their egg production. Adding to his woes, all his fruit and vegetable trees have started rotting, costing him more than he can afford.
Another irate farmer, Emraan Sulaman, said that all his permanent crops have been damaged and he could not estimate the amount he has lost.
He noted that all his plants are rotting as the water is receding. He also said that with the continuous rainfall, there is a possibility that they will be flooded again.
