Corentyne rice farmers are upset with the Regional Administration and the government for their lack of assistance in ensuring that the rice industry flourishes especially during the harvesting season which recently began and is expected to conclude in late November.
The rice farmers believe that the government is not interested in ensuring that they have a successful harvest despite the contribution the rice industry makes to the country’s economy. While the region has since claimed that there is no money left in their budget to carry out necessary works on the dams leading to the rice fields, some rice farmers from the 52 to 74 areas yesterday explained that they are also suffering from lack of irrigation water, as well as clogged canals, throughout the Corentyne area.
The farmers believe that with no support from the government, the rice industry will soon be on the chopping block like some sugar estates.
According to the President of the Rice Producers Association (RPA), Lekha Rambrich, There are over 62,000 acres of rice, 90% of which is heading into harvesting presently.
He pointed out that firstly, rice farmers are continuously suffering from paddy bug infestation and with manual spraying not solving the issue, an agreement was made to have aerial spraying done. “We had been promised by GRDB for air spraying but nothing has started yet.”
He noted that the commitment was made over four months ago, adding, “The GRDB give the general manager the mandate to aerial spray over four months ago because the board saw the importance but to date nothing was done, the general manager just sit on this directive of the board.”
Rambrich said that it was only after rice farmers held a recent protest that “… he [the general manager] start to negotiate for air service and the logistics work is not finished as yet so you would see this entire harvesting finish and air spraying would not start.”
The RPA president then touched on the need for irrigation water in the frontlands of Blackbush Polder and some parts of the 52 to 74 area totalling some 12,000 acres that were also in need of water.
He complained that all of the irrigation canals including the main irrigation canal are heavily clogged up since the persons who received contracts to clean the canals manually have failed to do so for several months now. “It’s totally clogged up so now it’s a serious problem for water to come down into the frontlands. While Black Bush Polder is harvesting and they don’t need water, farmers on the frontlands need water. We are calling on the relevant authorities to ensure that farmers in the frontlands gets water.”
In terms of no finance being available to carry out works on the dams, Rambrich pointed out, “This year is only promises. NDIA promise $2.5 million to Black Bush Polder, while $2.5 million was promised to 52 to 74 and then I understand yesterday that some promise was made to them as well for $2.5 million.”
According to farmers, Minister in the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Jaipaul Sharma visited the Crabwood Creek Area last week and promised that he would ensure NDIA allocates $2.5 million to have works done on dams in the Crabwood Creek Area.
Regional Chairman, David Armogan, last week announced that the Regional Executive Officer (REO), Kim Stephens, had informed him that there is no money left in the budget for works on dams. Armogan had said that since being at the region for over 15 years now, works are usually carried out on the dams twice a year (per crop). He also divulged that some $18 million would be needed to properly carry out works on all the necessary dams.
However, he had also noted, that he had reached out to CEO of the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority, Frederick Flatts who offered to assist with $5 million.
Armogan said, $2.5 million would go towards fixing dams in the Black Bush Polder area while the remaining $2.5 million would go towards the Numbers 52 to 74 areas.
Stabroek News confirmed yesterday, that $2.5 million each was given to Black Bush Polder, 52 to 74 areas and also, based on a request from Minister Sharma, to the Crabwood Creek area as well.
Immediately
Rambrich yesterday emphasised, that works on dams need to commence immediately, “There is a lot of holes which makes it impossible for farmers to access the field. “We have been getting feedback that our REO is saying that farmers break up the dams so they are responsible for making it but they don’t understand the importance of farmers and the contribution farmers are making to the development of the economy and their contribution to the GDP of this country and government needs in some way to contribute back to the farmers. Rice is the second highest foreign currency earner in this country and if we are not going to support the sector how can we earn the foreign currency?” he questioned.
“It’s the first time we are not getting assistance”, he observed, while pointing out that they have only met twice with the Minister of Agriculture since he took office, despite their many attempts to secure a meeting with him.
Ramgolam Singh, another farmer who met with reporters yesterday stated, “The region always budgeted $15 million to $20 million to assist with work on the dam, so I don’t know the reason why, who is blocking this to take place? It will be another expense on the farmer now. It will cost us more to take out our paddies,” the clearly frustrated farmer said.
Meanwhile, Ahmad Rajab, Chairman of the 52 to 74 Water Users Association, said, “Right now we got about 3,000 acres need water desperately, rice start to burn and I make request about a month ago through the region and they give out a contract to take the fuel (to the pumps) by land because the barge is going to cost too much and they don’t have that much money, but farmers are desperate.”
Rajab said that farmers were willing to transport the fuel themselves if the region would be willing to release the fuel.
One farmer, Boodnarine Tallolall, said, “Right now meh rice field dry like concrete, we got to treat it right now as emergency.”
As of yesterday afternoon Rajab said fuel had still not been taken into the area.
Further, Rajab said, there is also the fear that the water may not even reach the rice fields due to the clogged up canals. He said, “The last time the canal clean was in May/June and it has to be cleaned every month, they have a monthly contract, some contractor from Georgetown has it and he not getting people to clean it.”
In terms of dams for No. 52 to 74 villages, Rajab insisted that he made a submission seeking the region’s help to fix the dams before harvesting began, as is done for every crop.
He noted, that between 52 to 74, a total of 26 dams needed to be done, however the region had initially asked that 12 emergency dams be submitted for works. “I started to do work on the other dams and submit the 12 because all the dams need work and when I’m half way through I get a call that the REO say she has no money, so I had to reschedule because these were the important dams I thought they would be doing.”
Rajab noted, that they have since completed all 26 dams in their area, while dams in other areas remain in the same state.
