Black Bush Polder flooding: Farmers renew calls for long-term drainage fixes

…report crop losses

Residents and farmers in the Black Bush Polder (BBP), Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) are once again raising concerns about long-standing drainage deficiencies, after several sections of the agricultural area were inundated following heavy rainfall over the weekend.
Large expanses of farmland were left underwater after intense showers overwhelmed internal drains and canals, causing water to back up into cultivation areas and nearby access dams. In several sections, fields appeared submerged for hours, with young rice and cash crops visibly affected.
Farmers said that while heavy rainfall contributed to the flooding, the situation was worsened by persistent drainage challenges that have not been fully resolved over the years.
“Every time we get heavy rain, the same thing happens,” one farmer said, noting that water often remains trapped in the fields longer than it should.
Farmers at Yakasary, one of the four polders that make up BBP, said the drainage system cannot cope, and when it backs up, the crops suffer.
Several rice and cash crop farmers have already reported losses, with some fields remaining waterlogged long enough to threaten crop survival. Cash crop farmers, in particular, expressed concern that prolonged flooding could wipe out vegetables and short-term crops that are highly sensitive to excess moisture.
According to farmers, the problem is not limited to rainfall alone but also relates to how drainage infrastructure is managed and maintained across the scheme. They have called for more consistent desilting, monitoring of water flow, and stronger oversight of drainage operations to prevent recurring flooding during periods of heavy rain.
Significant pressure on drainage network
During a visit to the area on Sunday, Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha acknowledged the concerns raised by residents and farmers, noting that the intense rainfall, exceeding six inches within 48 hours, had placed significant pressure on the drainage network.
The Minister said immediate steps were taken to manage the situation, including the closure of watercourse heads to prevent additional inflow and the deployment of pumps to accelerate the removal of excess water from affected areas. He noted that pumps were operating at several key locations, including Adventure and Eversham, with additional units being mobilised to assist farmers directly in their fields.
Mustapha also disclosed that teams from the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA), the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB), the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI), and the Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA) have been dispatched to assess the extent of the flooding and document losses.
Farmers have welcomed the presence of technical teams but insist that long-term solutions are urgently needed.
“Every year is the same thing; when the rain fall heavy, the water can’t move fast enough,” one rice farmer said, noting the need for durable drainage solutions.
Rice farmers say they lose crops this time of the year annually as a result of flooding.
Mustapha acknowledged that drainage management remains a critical issue and warned against interference with drainage structures, noting that improper handling or tampering can worsen flooding during periods of intense rainfall. He said authorities will be working with BBP Water Users’ Associations and the BBP Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) to strengthen monitoring and enforcement.
In addition to emergency drainage works, Mustapha pointed to broader measures being pursued to protect farmers from climate-related losses. These include the agricultural insurance programme covering rice farmers, supported through a partnership involving UPL and Mutual Life Insurance, which is intended to provide compensation when crops are damaged by extreme weather.
He explained that weather stations are already in place in the area and that assessments are underway to determine eligibility for assistance under the insurance framework.
Despite the challenges, Mustapha expressed optimism that with pumps operating and water levels gradually receding, conditions would stabilise in the coming days.
However, residents and farmers continue to stress that without long-term improvements to drainage infrastructure, flooding will remain a recurring threat to livelihoods in the Black Bush Polder.