The Black Bush Polder NDC compound was under water on Tuesday
Floodwaters continue to worry farmers of Back Bush Polder (BBP) on the Corentyne Coast in Region Six (East Berbice /Corentyne), with those engaged in cash crop and livestock being the hardest hit.
According to BBP farmers, several factors have contributed to the flooding. This was told to Regional Vice-Chairman Zamal Hussain, who visited the affected area on Tuesday.
Heavy rainfall is just one of the factors that contribute to the floodwaters, the farmers have said. The other is the release of water from Cocorite Savannah into the cultivation area.
When the four Polders of BBP were established: Lesbeholden, Mibicuri, Johanna and Yakusari, there were 25,000 acres of farming land which the drainage and irrigation system catered for, but currently, 60,000 acres are under cultivation in the four polders.
Former Chairman of the Black Bush Polder Water Users Association, Surijpaul Hemraj, had previously said the polders would adequately drain about one and a quarter inches of water within a 24-hour period.
Hemraj, who has been farming in the BBP for 59 years, said the current drainage and irrigation system needs to be improved.
“So, if you check at it from 25,000 acres to now about 60,000 acres, they have to improve the drainage capacity,” he explained.
When the polders were established, the Cocorite Savannah was created as a reservoir, so that during the dry spell, the water could be released into the cultivation areas. However, the Savannah is now being utilised for both cattle and rice. As such, the water accumulated in the Savannah during the rainy period is being released into the cultivation area immediately, so as to prevent flooding of the Savannah.
Only recently, Region 6 Chairman David Armogan told this publication that the issue is affecting both residents and farmers of the two polders of Johanna and Yakusari, and the situation is considered serious.
He noted that the current situation is as a result of incessant rainfall from the end of November until current, and he explained that even though sluices are operable, pumps have been put in place to assist with drainage.
“But the problem is the amount of water coming into the system from above, and then we have water coming in from the Savannah, and then we have water coming in from the roadside as well, because of the Number 47 and 51 areas. there is also a high level of water which is being drained into the Black Bush Polder,” Armogan explained.
The Chairman said the regional administration would be removing the pipes which drain the Cocorite Savannah into the Black Bush Polder in an effort to reduce the amount of water coming into the Polder.
However, that commitment was made one week ago, but little work has been done to drain the water from Cocorite Savannah.
