For altogether understandable reasons, last Sunday’s usually widely popular Mocha Farmers Market was a shadow of its former self. On Sunday the farmers were returning to market following a protracted absence, the result of longstanding and seemingly complicated drainage challenges which, for many months, had left their farms flooded, putting a major part of their livelihoods on hold. Last Sunday’s return to market came only after protracted protestations, and eventually, the intervention of various agencies including the National Drainage & Irrigation Authority (NDIA) to address the drainage problems.
The earlier reported rendering of drainage canals had appeared sufficient to bring a measure of relief to the farmers and to at least realise sufficient produce to somewhat improve their circumstances and to make last Sunday’s Market Day possible. However, the recent days of heavy rainfall and the attendant drainage of lands in neighbouring communities have, once again, inundated the farmlands, evidence that official intervention has still not brought a lasting solution to the problem.