Scores of rice, cash crop and livestock farmers, who suffered losses as a result of the recent flooding in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) on Friday, protested
Farmers bearing plaque cards protesting the non-support of Governmen
Government’s non-support towards their plight.
The protest saw farmers walking from the Anna Regina high bridge to the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) and to the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) office, with the aim of bringing attention to their struggles as a result of the recent floods in the region.
The protest was led by General Secretary of the Rice Producers Association (RPA) Dharamkumar Seeraj and Region Two Chairman Devanand Ramdatt.
The farmers carried placards which read, among other things, “Holder is a stranger to agriculture”; “Government we suffer from recent flood, help us now!”; “Put machinery to work on lands, not on Parks”; “We need better drainage and dams not parks”; “Cut Minister salaries and increase the price for paddy”; “Women and children suffering”.
Attention needed
During the protest, rice farmers explained to the media that their fields were inundated with water for weeks and as such, they were forced to spend thousands of dollars to pump water off their lands.
Rice farmers, particularly those living in Coffee Grove, Lima, La Belle Alliance, Hampton Court and Windsor Castle, have related that they lost acres of rice due to the intrusion of excessive water in their fields.
This was compounded by the lack of drainage in their area and they called on Government to immediately dispatched high capacity pumps to the areas, hence safeguarding future flooding.
According to a farmer from La Belle Alliance, Jagan Dwarka, he cultivated 10 acres of rice this crop and lost four. The farmer related that his livelihood has been affected since his fields have been damaged. He reported that the pumps in the area were not working according to the schedule and alleged that the fuel was used elsewhere.
Another farmer, Feroze Mohammed, from Anna Regina, said that he lost two acres to the flooding. He cultivated 70 acres and explained that he already threw three doses of fertiliser on his crop.
He then questioned who will compensate him for his damaged acres. Mohammed believes that the flooding was a result of poor drainage provided in his area.
Nikesh Persaud, from Reliance village, also lost two acres to the flooding. He said presently, his fields are damaged and covered with duck weed.
Farmer Ramnaresh Samsundar of Walton Hall lost one acre, while Neaz Samaroo lost four acres. These farmers are calling for compensation to assist them in venturing back into cultivation.
Cut taxes
Meanwhile, the RPA head said the protest was a voluntary one done by farmers to demonstrate their message to those in charge, especially Agriculture Minister Noel Holder, who publicly denied the region was affected by flooding.
Seeraj said the persons gathered were affected by the recent rainfall, coupled with the lack of drainage in their respective areas and as a result, suffered tremendous losses. To date he stated that over 1500 acres of rice are damaged in Region Two.
Seeraj also explained that the Region Two administration has neglected farmers and did not heed to their call at the time help was requested. He said that if one should examine the rice industry, they would notice additional burdens in the industry, especially with taxations.
He said the RPA is calling on the Government to immediately reverse the additional drainage and irrigation charges, a reduction in land rents and also to use some of the money that is spent by farmers to purchase fuel to reinvest in the industry.
He also called for the removal of tax from fuel, as well as open new rice markets. Rice farmers are calling for Minister Noel Holder to visit them and listen to their concerns. To date, only officials from NDIA visited the region since the flooding occurred.
