Farmers frustrated as thieves create havoc in WBB

A number of farmers on the West Bank of Berbice, Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) are at the mercy of thieves who constantly raid their farms and steal their produce.
This was brought to the attention of Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha during an outreach in the area on Sunday. The Minister, however, assured the farmers that the matter would be investigated.
The farmers have stated that not only fruits and vegetables are stolen but coconuts and other crops as well.
According to one of the farmers, initially, their farms would be raided at night but of recent, the thieves are turning up at any time and making their demands.
“These people coming down to Rosignol, they don’t have one bora plant but you can see them with canter load going down to Georgetown with coconut,” a farmer whose coconuts were stolen told the Minister.
He also disclosed that recently, mangoes were being sold at the Rosignol Market at a cost of $50 each. This price, he explained, was as a result of the thieves taking their mangoes to the capital city thus creating a shortage of ripe mangoes in the market.
Guyana Times understands that villages between Numbers Three and Five are considered the largest mango producing area in the region.
Nevertheless, a farmer detailed that the thieves would use bicycles to carry out their raids and, in some instances, they are armed.
“Sometimes they forced us to pick the coconut and then peel it and fetch it out for them,” he added.
Another farmer, Darshney Kissoon, a cash crop farmer, related that the intruders would intercept and rob them as they make their way to the farm.
Because of the constant attacks, she and her husband have had to give up the farm and seek employment in other places where they earn a meagre $300 per day.
Meanwhile, another cash crop farmer, Muhamed Ayube, said he reported the matter to the Blairmount Police Station but no assistance was provided.
Upon listening to the farmers, the Minister said he was in utter shock to learn that farmers were forced to reap the fruits, vegetables and fetch them out of the farm for the thieves. He said his Ministry will launch an investigation.
“This is a very serious matter, and I want to assure you that I will raise it at the highest forum within the Government so that we can deal with it and try to resolve this problem,” he told the farmers while noting that it has the potential to create serious conflict.
“We have to work on both sides. We have to talk to the comrades at Number Five and we have to also protect the crops of our farmers because when you are farming and putting all your resources and labour in producing and when you see the fruits of your labour being taken away or stolen from you that can cause you to do anything.”
The Minister promised to have the matter brought to the attention of the Home Affairs Minister and others to see how the farmers’ crops can be protected.