The Santa Fe mega farm in the Rupununi has responded to questions about the toxicity of chemicals it uses and their impact on the surrounding wetlands, stating that it is committed to proper management of the chemicals and to ensuring that contamination of surrounding waters is minimal.
In the response, issued through the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment, the farm operated by the Simpson family of Barbados, advised “that the pesticides and rates used for the rice cultivation are no different from those used on the coastland.”
“Santa Fe has committed to proper management of pesticides and fertilizers ensuring minimal discharge and contamination of surrounding waters,” the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Envi-ronment said in a response to questions from Stabroek News.
The matter of the toxicity of the chemicals and the impact on the environment has been raised at the parliamentary level by MP Sydney Allicock, who is also a resident of the area. Last month, Allicock posed questions to Minister of Agriculture Dr Leslie Ramsammy who is expected to provide answers at the next sitting of the National Assembly. Allicock asked about the types of insecticide and fertiliser that were/are being used at the Santa Fe farm in the north Rupununi and whether any Environ-mental Impact Assessment (EIA) was done. Director of the Environmental Protection Agency Dr Inderjit Ramdass had previously told Stabroek News that no EIA was done.
Allicock also wants to know whether the amount of chemicals used would be a threat to the eco-system of the wetlands of the north Rupununi in the rainy season. He had expressed concern that the company was not providing answers sought by communities.
The Government Infor-mation Agency (GINA) reported last year that given the soil type, the AR Irja 424 variety of rice being cultivated on the farm required greater fertiliser application which meant using three times the fertiliser regimen applied on the coastland as well as a greater use of pesticides. Santa Fe has declined requests by Stabroek News for an interview on its investment and all the information on it, prior to the ministry’s statement, has been provided by GINA.
The ministry told Stabroek News that Santa Fe has indicated that two rice crops, the first crop of 120 acres and the current crop of 132 acres have been cultivated. The caterpillar is the only early season insect pest found to infest the rice fields and deep ploughing to expose pupae to predators and flooding of infested fields for 24-48 hours in order to drown caterpillars is the current practice to control insect populations, it said. “Chemical control is reserved for only when infestation may surpass threshold (30 damage leaves/square metre). This threshold has not been surpassed,” the ministry added.
The statement said Santa Fe farm further stated that common fertilizers used consist of NPK (5-25-25) which is drilled into the soil simultaneously while planting, reducing the losses to environment. In addition to the NPK, urea is applied in three splits to the fields, it said.
The ministry stated that the Environmental Protec-tion Agency (EPA) granted Environmental Authorisa-tion to the farm in Decem-ber 2012. “As part of the process for the issuance of the Environmental Autho-risation, the Agency engag-ed relevant stakeholders within Region Nine to ascertain their concerns. The diligent process of consultations and technical reviews resulted in the EPA recommending an Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP). The general public was given 30 days to comment on this decision of the Agency. No objections were received,” the ministry stated.
The statement said that the company prepared and submitted an ESMP in keeping with the EPA’s guidelines.
Santa Fe is looking to expand its operations. Following an initial rice crop last year, GINA reported that the company expected to see about 1,000 acres of rice cultivated, 980 acres more than what was planted in the first crop. The farm also planned to get into soya bean cultivation as well as the rearing of beef and dairy animals. Ramsammy had told Stabroek News that the firm has plans to expand eventually to 30,000 acres and “government is also looking favourably at giving them that acreage as it will yield tremendous benefits for us.”
The Natural Resources Ministry said that should the company wish to increase the size of its holdings and the nature of its operation, it would be required to submit an Application for Variance to the EPA. Based upon the submission the agency will determine whether an EIA is required, the statement said.
The ministry added that the EPA is committed to and is monitoring Santa Fe’s operation to determine compliance with the Environmental Protection Act and Regulations along with the Environmental Permit and ESMP.
