One of the drains that were dug to drain the water
Residents of Black Bush Polder can now breathe a sigh of relief because floodwaters on their farm lands and residence has receded. This was evident during a visit to the community on Monday.
Speaking with the media during the visit to the four polders, Vice Chairman of Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), Jamal Hussain, posited that seven machines were deployed to the area to clear the canals and drains.
The flooding was caused by the intrusion of water from the Cocorite Savannah into the Johanna and Yakusari polders. Due to the flooding, there was major damage to both crops and livestock in that area.
Vice Chairman Hussain explained that in order for the water to recede at a fast rate, three small excavators and two large ones were deployed to the area, and two draglines have also been assisting in clearing the drainage systems in the affected area.
The current drainage system has the capacity to drain only 2 and one-half inches of water within 24 hours, but over the past few weeks, more than five inches of rainfall were recorded.
Following a visit to the affected area by Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha on December 29, 2020, a decision was taken to clear the canals in all four Polders. Although Lesbeholden and Mibicuri were not severely affected by the heavy rainfall, the ongoing project caters for all four Polders.
Meanwhile, the Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA) is assessing the losses to livestock as a result of the flooding, while the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) is meeting with cash crop farmers to ascertain the damage to crops.
The Agriculture Minister had promised assistance for those affected in the form of fertilisers, chemicals, feed, and by providing technical assistance.
