Black Bush Polder flooding being assessed

…farmers complain of losses, inadequate drainage

The Agriculture Ministry will assess the extent of the current floods affecting cash crops and livestock farmers in the Black Bush Polder area of Region Six (East Berbice/ Corentyne).
The Polders of Johanna and Yakusari have been hardest hit, with livestock and poultry farmers suffering losses.
Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha, who visited the four polders on Tuesday, explained that the Black Bush Polder is like a basin, draining all of the surrounding highlands into the polder. He said the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority would be examining ways to remedy and/or improve the current infrastructure.
“…because we cannot continue having farmers suffering in such a way,” Mustapha said on Tuesday.
Mustapha is hoping that the two polders will be drained within the next 48 hours.
“What we want to do is to put long-term measures in place for the drainage and irrigation system,” he explained.
Residents reported that the sluices and pumps had not been working as per schedule. As such, the minister called on residents to identify persons in their community to monitor the sluices and pumps, adding that once this is done, the Ministry would employ the persons. This arrangement is expected to last until the rainy season ends.
“We are going to put systems in place so that in the future residents will not (encounter) these difficulties.” In residential communities, persons have complained that cash crop farmers have been pumping water out of their farms, resulting in flooding to the residential communities. Residents complained that, for some time now, much needed maintenance of the drainage system has not been done.
In response, Mustapha said that, as of today, machinery is expected to be on the ground to clear drains, which are referred to as “front and back drains” in the two polders.
Meanwhile, farmers who have their animals at Cocorite Savannah has been releasing the water directly into the polder in an effort to prevent their animals from dying. Back in 2016, hundreds of cattle died as a result of floods at Cocorite Savannah due to rainfall.
Engineers from the Agriculture Ministry are expected to be in the area today to assess the situation.
Mustapha explained that all the tubes leading from Cocorite Savannah into the Polder will have to be sealed until the water level in the two polders drops.
The National Agricultural Research & Extension Institute’s (NAREI’s) Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA) will also be conducting the survey.
The Agriculture Minister said he is hopeful to receive that report by Thursday in order to determine and analyse the extent of the damage. He committed to offering assistance to the affected farmers.
Meanwhile, Region Six Chairman David Armogan told this publication that the issues affecting both residents and farmers in the two polders of Johanna and Yakusari are considered serious.
He noted that the current situation is as a result of incessant rainfall.