Some Mahaica farmers angry over handling of water crisis

Farmers pumping water but only managing to get a trickle. Inset is water being pumped from Mahaica Creek into the Baiabu Canal

With the El Nino drought deepening, some farmers in Mahaica are angry that their crops are at risk of dying because others are pumping water indiscriminately despite a rotation schedule instituted by the Mahaica, Mahaicony, Abary-Agriculture Development Authority (MMA-ADA).

The farmers from the Perseverance/Handsome Tree area are insisting that the MMA-ADA take stern action against those who are pumping water exclusively for their own needs.

While the farmers were incensed yesterday at the growing threat to their crops, the MMA-ADA is of the view that the situation is improving. In light of the intense competition for water, the MMA-ADA has implemented a rotation schedule for five blocks to tap the water being pumped from the Kuliserabo and Mahaica creeks into irrigation canals. However, farmers in the