As thousands of Guyanese continue to battle floodwaters throughout the country, rice farmers within the Number 52/74 Neighbourhood Democratic Council on the Corentyne are pleading with the government for financial help since most of them are presently several millions of dollars in debt and are unable to make any payments on their own due to the losses they have suffered.
Further, based on the damage in the backlands which are presently submerged, the farmers estimate that the government would have to spend at least $100 million on repairs once the water recedes.
Traditionally, rice farmers would purchase their machinery, fuel, chemical and other supplies on credit. Usually after the crop is completed and the farmers have harvested, they would repay their loans. However, due to the losses they have suffered as a result of the flooding, which has since been declared a national disaster by President Irfaan Ali, rice farmers are finding it nearly impossible to meet their financial obligations which is causing them a great deal of frustration.
Rice farmer, Ramgolam Singh, explained that one month ago he had informed the Water Users Association along with an engineer that the situation in the backdam was getting “very serious” as it seemed that water was getting into the irrigation system. At that stage he had advised them to close the discharge at the Manabisi pump but after the engineer contacted someone, he was told that the pump could not be closed.
Singh yesterday said, “Myself and the engineer went there and they confirmed that the water was coming through the Manabisi pump.” According to the farmer, upon their return they discovered that “at the siphon which is 18 feet by 10 feet water, a two door to close and the Water User Association refuse to close because them say cattle is endangered and the people in Kwakwani was flooded and the water come through the Torani Canal by opening the seven door into Canje Creek, flood Canje Creek and use the water pond canal which supplies the farmers in 52/74 and flood the entire area.”
An upset Singh further related, that the flooding which started one month ago and has increased over time, caused the entire backlands to be submerged thus blocking rice farmers from returning to their cultivation for another crop and causing immense damage to infrastructure in the area. “Some of the biggest disasters you are going to face in 52/74 is all the access dam is covered under water and it will take the government over $100 million to put back that place in order,” he opined.
Singh pointed out that not only are the rice farmers themselves affected but also their staff and the persons who depend directly and indirectly on them which adds up to several thousand. He said persons are likely to soon become unemployed.
Stabroek News was told that there are presently around 300 rice farmers within the 52/74 area. Around 25 of these have suffered huge losses.
Also, as of yesterday Stabroek News was told that the siphon doors were closed, the pump was off and four machines were in the area working which has left farmers hopeful that in about one week’s time they would get some relief in terms of the floodwater receding. However, they were still unsure as to what their next step would be since given their losses they would be unable to return to plant immediately.
Singh yesterday stressed, “Our living is in jeopardy, we don’t know how we will make a living because that is what we depend on.”
Farmers within the area said that they each owe millers, banks, gas stations, and other creditors, with some noting that they presently owe over $5 million.
“Farmers already purchased million dollar in seed paddy, inputs to go to the field but because of the situation in the backdam it is very very disastrous”, Singh pointed out.
Another farmer, Mahendranauth Doolchand, of Number 69 Village, Corentyne said, that he has lost over 35 acres so far. “When we were asking to block all the box them to save our rice, the Water User them na give permission to lock it and when abbay done lose all abbay rice and a duck with black water then they decide to go lock the whole system.”
The man also relayed that machines belonging to some farmers were also stuck in the flooded backlands, “We have five tractor, combine deh inside the field under five feet, four and a half, three feet water and if them go crown that dam pon abbay then them machine can’t come out pon one or two years a back deh because everything go rotten out deh; that one other $30 to $40 million gone to losses.”
The farmers are also pleading with officials to assist them with removing the machines even to the dams “and then abbay can see how to bring out to the road.”
Repay the government
The men yesterday stressed, that presently they are being asked to pay their loans as their machinery and other assets would be repossessed. As such they are pleading with the government to look into clearing their loans after which they can work to repay the government.
Doolchand noted that he alone is several million dollars in debt, “Me na want them come seize me house and land. If them can help abbay pay out them loans this wah abbay take and give abbay one long term let abbay pay them back,” he pleaded.
Furthermore, Doolchand noted that they understand that President Ali is “doing his best” but that they are in need of immediate help. “I think he’s doing the best up to now out of all the president, he really working hard to help the flooding people but we na want nobody come seize nothing from we.”
Another rice farmer, Dave Tulsi, of Number 58 Village, Corentyne, said he usually plants 139 beds but he had already prepared 92 beds with seed paddy when they were hit with the flood. He said, presently there is no drainage in the backlands, while estimating his losses at over $750,000, “expense, preparation, and diesel, everything gone down the drain.”
“The water cover the dam, the boat go over the dam. There use to be access dam and it’s under water about 2 and a half to three feet. I don’t have to pull the boat over the dam, just water now,” he added.
Anand Tulsi, another rice farmer, also explained that they are also facing the hardship of having to pay the rent for the lands they cultivate. He explained that persons leasing land usually have to pay about $9,000 per bed on every crop. However, the owners have stated that they cannot reduce the price unless they are given a reduction in rates from the government. “The people them a ask if them can cut the rates so that them can give in to abbay with the rents”, he noted.
The men are pleading with the government to make the necessary interventions as early as possible so as to assist them, as they all are at their wits end.
