Rice farmers from the Hogstye, Lancaster, Alness, Manchester and other areas in Corentyne, Berbice are suffering tremendously, as heavy rainfall continues, fuelling the flood situation.
According to the rice farmers, they have lost hundreds of acres of rice since the rainy season started in May.
Silvester Corlette of Whim said, “I cut some rice, but when you expect twenty bags, you getting five bags.” According to the man, who has been a rice farmer for over 20 years now, all tools are down, since, he is strapped for cash. “We ain’t planting back right now,” he said. “I got to try see money to plant back. Me owe a lot of people and the workers depend on their money.”
Corlette explained that in the past, during the rainy season, the water would usually take about a week to drain. However, he stated that this year, because of the heavy rainfall, excess water is lodged and the clogged drainage system is causing it to take longer to drain.
Winston Munroe of Liverpool disclosed that whatever little they were lucky enough to harvest, transporting it was difficult as the dams are flooded as well.
Munroe opined that attention needs to be paid, to the Liverpool outfall, which is heavily silted.
According to him, work was done to desilt the outfall, however, it was not adequate. Munroe said, “The machine could not reach the end of the outfall to clear it.”
About twenty distraught farmers visited the Office of the Prime Minister representative in Region Six Gobin Harbhajan, seeking assistance and advice on how to move forward.
Harbhajan, in a press release, said that after making contact with the Minister of Agriculture Noel Holder, he was referred to the President of the Rice Producers Association Leekah Rambrich, which resulted in a meeting being held with the RPA president and farmers.
According to Rambrich, a meeting is expected to be held on Tuesday with Nand Persaud and Company Ltd as regards an extension being given to rice farmers pertaining to their loans.
