By Subhana Shiwmangal
Farmers in the Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara are experiencing challenges with their rice crop owing to the dry season and an infiltration of saltwater into the irrigation system.
Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha said he met with the farmers on December 16, and implemented a number of measures, one being to provide a bowser and irrigation water for the crops.
“Right now, the problem is the water shortage to supply the rice field. I’m not getting the water and the rice is almost due [in 30 days] that need fertilizers and due to the water supply, we cannot use the fertilizer,” Gaganand Singh, a 35-year-old farmer of Wash Clothes Village told the Sunday Stabroek on Friday.
He relayed that this has been a problem since the first week in November and that the minister visited farmers of the Mahaicony Creek on December 16 and promised them water within a week’s time. However, a week has gone by and the farmers have not received the water as promised.