Corentyne farmer at wits’ end with destruction of cash crop by cattle

A Corentyne cash crop farmer is claiming that cattle entered his farm and destroyed a significant portion of his cultivation. He is now worried by the slow response by authorities.
Apart from vegetable and other crops farming equipment was also damaged by the animals.
Ravi Rohan Lall of Grant 2129 Crabwood Creek (CWC), Corentyne, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) cultivates a five-acre plot at Torani Canal CWC growing cash crops, suckers, cassava and sweet potatoes.
The 41-year-old farmer told Guyana Times that on December 12, when he visited his farm which is located in the backlands several sections were destroyed.
“When I go in the farm, then I really see what the cows do. At the said moment I become frustrated because I had planted some pak choi the day before and I went there to make a shed for them. I already cut the branches and carry them in to make the shed.”
Lall said as he looked around, he noticed that other sheds erected to cover some of his crop from the sun were pulled down.
“There was no part of the farm that the cows did not walk and tramp,” the farmer said.
“The cassava, the root out – they had 10-15 cassava on one root; some ready to harvest now and some in a months’ time.”
Lall added that he invested in sprinklers to ensure adequate water supply for his crops and these too were damaged.
Following the discovery, Lall made contact with officials in the region, the Ministry of Agriculture and also the Police so that an appraisal could be done in order for him to claim damages.
However, one week later, he had still needed to wait on a visit or phone call indicating when the visit to the farm would be made.
“Even the Police say that they would go the same time with NAREI [National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute]. When you make a report at the station, the Police should go immediately to see what is damaged,” the farmer added.
In order to gain access to the farm, the animals would have to swim across a canal.
There is a barbed wire fence to the front of the farm. Lall said he was forced to install the fence, because one year ago animals entered the farm and destroyed all of his crops. At that time, he had corn, sweet potatoes, pumpkins, bora, squash, eggplants and peppers, which were all destroyed.
According to Lall, his investment was aided by a loan from the Institute of Small Enterprise Development (IPED), adding that the loan was secured last year for his previous crop.
The farmer is estimating his damages for each crop at about $500,000.
“I didn’t even pick one bora from the last crop and now I planted bora again and the same thing,” the frustrated farmer said.
Lall has been able to ascertain the brands on some of the cattle and is hoping for authorities to intervene swiftly. (G4)