The Rice Producers Association (RPA) last week issued a warning to Essequibo farmers to use pesticides before a potential snail infestation.
General Secretary of the RPA, Dharamkumar Seeraj told Stabroek News yesterday that when he visited the area last week he received complaints from approximately 13 farmers. Seeraj stated that he visited some of the fields and noticed “an above normal amount of snails in the rice fields…we then thought it would be better to issue the warning.”
Seeraj stated that with the recent disputes between the farmers and the bodies which represent their interest and the government, the RPA was taking proactive measures to assure rice farmers that the association was looking out for their best interest. He noted that “about 13 people spoke to me on Tuesday and I had heard enough to realize that others were probably having the same problem so we’ve let the farmers know”. He continued that farmers were urged to purchase a powder that is sprinkled in the water to kill the snails.
Farmers stated that the snails were easy to control and infestation only occurred when the drainage was compromised in the fields. One farmer told Stabroek News that “I don’t have a snail problem and I haven’t heard much about it, but snails aren’t paddy bug they are easier to control…it may be the land may have flooded and water isn’t moving”. He said that the presence of snails could lead to bigger issues.
Essequibo farmers have been protesting on and off for the past two months. They have voiced frustration with the RPA and the Guyana Rice Development Board, stating that neither was doing enough to further farmers’ causes. Farmers have repeatedly complained to the Ministry of Agriculture about the paddy grading system, millers not paying farmers on time and the need for pesticide regulations.
