Wakenaam, Leguan farmers express frustration over non-assistance

In the face of the tremendous challenges that rice farmers countrywide have experienced as a result of the El

A rice field which is very dry due to the lack of water
A rice field which is very dry due to the lack of water

Niño conditions which have resulted in them suffering major losses, they are yet to receive assistance from Government.
This information was revealed to Guyana Times by rice farmers who are yet again calling for assistance.
Farmers related to this publication that the General Manager of the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) and representatives from the Rice Producers Association (RPA) visited a number of rice farmers in Leguan and Wakenaam (Essequibo) and promised compensation and assistance for the new crop.
However, since that meeting, farmers have not heard anything from the GRDB and the RPA.
Speaking with this publication, a Wakenaam rice farmer disclosed that most of the farmers were considering not planting rice for the new crop as they were in dire financial constraints.
“Most of these farmers don’t know what to do for the new crop, because, first of all, because of the losses that we faced, we do not even have money to plant for the new crop,” the famer explained.
According to another Wakenaam rice farmer, the GRDB visited them and explained that the Board has taken note of the significant losses that the farmers have incurred, noting that discussions were ongoing to provide assistance in order for the rice farmers to restart cultivation.
“They told us that they would provide paddy and so forth for us in the meeting, but it is time for us to cultivate and we are not hearing back anything so we don’t know what to do,” the frustrated farmer explained.
A Leguan rice farmer told Guyana Times that they have not received any word at all which would suggest that they would be compensated.
“We did not hear anything about any compensation. We need compensation because we are really struggling. I hope that the Government can really look into this, because it’s long we have been pleading for assistance, it’s really hard.”
Early last month, the Regional Chairman of Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), Julius Faerber had announced that the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) would be petitioning the Government to compensate the Leguan and Wakenaam rice farmers.
Faerber told this publication that the Government needed to ensure that the rice farmers have funds when the drought period is over to replant their crop.
In Wakenaam, the last report received revealed that 300 acres of rice had been lost and some 2000 were at risk.
In Leguan, the situation had become so dire that 38-40 acres of rice were planted instead of the usual 4000 acres.
Also in Regions Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam); Five (Mahaica-Berbice) and Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), thousands of acres of rice have been lost because of drought.
Despite the struggle, rice farmers of Region Two early last month began harvesting their fields. Rice harvesting has commenced in the north and south of the Essequibo Coast in villages such as Perseverance, Airy Hall, Golden Fleece and Lima.
The farmers are hoping that as the rainy season begins, they can work towards getting back what was lost.