Illegal culvert adds to farmers’ woes

Lack of water for rice fields

The diversion of water by an illegal culvert has added to farmers’ woes between Adventure and Eversham on the Corentyne, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne). The culvert is located in the backlands at Friendship village.

According to reports, the illegal culvert was placed lower than those placed by engineers along the main irrigation canal. This prevents water from reaching the required level to be distributed to different farmlands. Some 22,000 acres have been without water since the start of the crop in November.
In some fields, rice was planted and it turned brown and in others, huge cracks have opened. The ground is so dry that in many areas the rice did not grow.
Delon Bagot, who has more than ten acres under rice cultivation at Cromarty, said he has already spent in excess of $2.7 million on the crop.
“And water shortages have been destroying everything.”
The rice farmer is calling on the Government to take action and offer assistance to those who would have suffered. Many of the affected rice farmers told this publication that their losses would prevent them from going into the next crop.
It had been reported that several thousand acres of rice depend on this canal for water and if the water is not supplied urgently that too will die. Rice lands in the backlands on Black Bush Polder are being irrigated but those in the front lands are in jeopardy. Thousands of acres of rice depend on the main canal in the front lands for water but it is currently empty. Some rice fields have already died and if water is not supplied urgently, more will suffer. Rice lands in the backlands of the Black Bush Polder are being irrigated but those in front are damaged or are on the brink of dying.
Between Eversham and Adventure, there are 22,000 acres of rice under cultivation.
Since November last year the 52/74 Water Users Association and the Black Bush Polder Water Users Association issued appeals to the regional administration for the pumps at Manarabisi and Black Bush Polder to be fully operational so that the farmers can get water to grow their crop. Regional Chairman David Armogan had said back in November that he was trying to assist the farmers and had spoken with Regional Executive Officer, Kim Williams-Stevens, who was reluctant to have all five pumps in the Black Bush Polder operational and all two at Manarabisi working, stating that enough fuel was not available. This decision has proven to be detrimental to the farmers. Many of the rice farmers are now wondering when the current Administration will recognise that rice farmers play a significant role in Guyana’s economy.