With water levels in the Mahaica Creek rising substantially over the previous two days, cash crop farmers yesterday pleaded for authorities to discontinue releasing water from the East Demerara Water Conservancy (EDWC) into the area.
The communities in the area have seen a drastic increase in the water level around their environs and yesterday the farmers noted that more than 80% of the farms were inundated.
Head of a group of farmers Naresh Deonarine told Stabroek News they have lost most of their crops and he said it was left for the authorities to visit the area and determine what forms of assistance must be given to the farmers.
He said that most of the farmers were angry that no one from the regional administration or the government has seen the need to visit the area as flood waters rose daily since Tuesday. The famers told this newspaper that they were hoping that some form of assistance is provided to the residents since most persons in the area are poor. Minister of Agriculture Dr Leslie Ramsammy yesterday pledged a major relief effort for affected farmers in Mahaica/Mahaicony areas.
Deonarine noted that the last March, following similar flood conditions, the residents were promised various forms of assistance by the government and he noted that a few farmers received $50,000 as a form of compensation for their losses. However, he said that the monies could not compensate for the losses incurred and he said that this year the residents were hoping for the best.
Yesterday, the members of the group visited several flood affected farms at Big Baiboo, Grass Hook and further south of the waterway at Joe Hook. They noted that most farmers have lost thousands of bora plants; the area is nationally known for its bora production.
This newspaper visited several homes which were visited earlier in the week and the water levels had climbed by as much as two feet. Several households have been forced to remove articles, such as cooking utensils, cement and storage boxes to higher ground.
According to Grass Hook farmer Harrylall, most of the cash crop plants, including peppers, squash and bora plants, which he was saving from the waters, were destroyed within the past two days. He said that he and his family have given up all hope that they will recover this year from the losses suffered, while noting that the May/June rains will add to their woes.
The farmers in the area noted yesterday that the water level at the EDWC stood two inches below the 58 GD(Georgetown Datum) mark. They said the authorities had noted that when the water level falls below that mark, the doors of the Maduni sluice would have been closed.
Deonarine said that the level stood at 57 inches at the Maduni Sluice while the level was a fraction lower at the Lama outlet. He opined that since the rains have eased, the EDWC board should utilise the Kofi and Cunha outlets to continue draining water out of the holding area.
Meantime, Mahaicony Creek residents told this newspaper that their surroundings have been covered by additional volumes of water since Stabroek News visited the area on Thursday. Yesterday, the residents related that most rice fields were covered in water as rice farmers tried desperately save their crops. An excavator, which was sent into the area to raise the five-foot dam which protects the rice lands from the creek, has been stuck in a rice farm at the community of Pine Ground since Thursday.
Livestock continued to be threatened by the rising flood water and persons in the community noted that they were scampering for drier lands to place the animals.
