As El Nino continues to scorch acres of rice in the Mahaica and Mahaicony areas, the situation is being compounded by the monopolising of the limited water by farmers closer to the source. But the Mahaica/Mahaicony/Abary-Agriculture Development Authority (MMA-ADA) said there isn’t much that can be done and made another strong appeal to the farmers to cooperate with one another.
Stabroek News has been closely following the drought and its effects on the rice farmers in the Mahaica and Mahaicony areas. Because of the limited amount of water flowing in the canals, all the farmers are forced to use external pumps to water their lands. A source at the MMA-ADA had explained to Stabroek News this was counterproductive as there wasn’t enough water to supply all the farmers.
As the water lessened, some farmers started blocking the canals preventing water from flowing to others who are further away from the source. The MMA-ADA and the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) had announced that anyone caught tampering with the irrigation systems would face prosecution and being fined.
The MMA-ADA then divided the farmlands into five blocks with block one—the land farthest from the water source—getting water for the first two days. General Manager of the MMA-ADA Aubrey Charles had told Stabroek News that each block would be allowed to pump water from the canal for two days.
However, despite this system, some farmers were still siphoning off the water, urging the others to request stronger actions from the authority.
“This here now, the MMA is responsible for everything ’cause if they come and stop everybody from pumping then we wouldn’t be here right now. Number 10 and Big Baiboo getting all the water and the water ain’t reaching the front cause all the creek man [farmers closer to the water source] taking all the water for themselves,” rice farmer Susankar (only name given) had stated on Friday. He said that when it was scheduled for his block (block one) to pump water, he was only able to pump for approximately two hours during the two days because of the water level.
Despite the canals being almost completely dried up in his area, Susankar said he believes there is enough water being pumped from the Kuliserabo Pump Station and the Mahaica Creek to supply all the farmers in the Mahaica area but due to greed, the water is now allowed to flow down.
When Stabroek News had visited the farmlands on Friday, the canals furthest away from the source were completely dried up. However, as Stabroek News travelled closer to the source, the water level was significantly higher and there were pumps on each side of the canal.
“Just because the MMA ain’t controlling the water that’s why all ah we in this state now. They just come and drive around and give fuel to the pumps but they got to come and monitor the water and see that the road man them get water and stop telling people that we getting water,” Vibert (only name given) told Stabroek News on Friday as a crowd of farmers gathered around to express their discontent. The farmers stated that while they appreciate the MMA-ADA for providing fuel to operate the pumps, the authority needed to take much more serious action against those who are pumping indiscriminately.
Their situation worsened over the weekend and several of the farmers travelled to the Ministry of Agriculture yesterday to raise their concerns to Minister Noel Holder. However, they were unable to meet him because of the beginning of the budget debates in Parliament yesterday. As a result, they communicated their concerns to Charles.
“We wanted to meet the minister today and tell he what’s going on cause this thing ain’t getting better at all but we ain’t reach he,” Susankar said. “We reach Charles today and he said that he gon make some decisions by the end of the day and that’s what we waiting for.”
He stressed that the farmers who are affected by the lack of water were willing to assist as much as they could. “We, all of we here, are willing to help with this thing. We willing to patrol during the nights but what can we do? What can we do to the farmers when we see them pumping?” Susankar questioned. He said that only the MMA or police have the authority to stop the farmers from pumping but are failing to do so.
When Stabroek News contacted Charles yesterday, he said that while the situation is “not looking good,” there is not much more that the MMA can do. He said that the MMA will stick with the five-block programme it had implemented last week as it is currently at the third block. “The problem is not the amount of water but the farmers closer to the source pumping it out all the time. Water was supposed to build up on Thursday and Friday so that block two would get but because the farmers are pumping, when block two was supposed to start pumping they couldn’t,” Charles said, stating the cycle is constantly being lengthened.
“Even persons in block three were pumping water when they shouldn’t and now they complaining about not getting water when they don’t have,” he pointed out.
“I myself was out there on Saturday and observed along the canals that there were several tractors and nobody attending to them. When we see people pumping we should stop them but what are we supposed to do when we see the tractors that have nobody there with them?” he questioned, stating that they are seeking the assistance of the police. “Even the police tell us that they aren’t there to seize the people pump and just to keep the peace,” he added.
When questioned whether the MMA has the authority to confiscate pumps from farmers who are pumping when they are not supposed to, Charles said it did, but that would not be an economically wise decision. “We can take their pumps away, but then we would have to take them to court and that takes a lot of money. It takes a lot of money that we didn’t budget for so right now there isn’t anything more we can do,” Charles said. He appealed again to the farming community for cooperation. He said there is enough water being pumped to supply all the farmers if some of them desist from being selfish.
He added that another solution was to have staff from the MMA patrolling the areas 24/7, but currently there is not enough staff to implement such a programme. “We don’t have enough staff and man power and sometimes they are out there until 10 in the night and they are trying but the place is large. As soon as we stop one person and turn our back they start back pumping,” he said, stating that it is impossible for the MMA to be everywhere. He heaped praises on the farmers who have offered to assist.
While the MMA is caught between a rock and a hard place and the hostilities over water continue, Susankar said the only thing that is sure right now is that thousands of acres of rice will be lost if they do not receive water in the coming days.
