Lack of water delays rice cultivation in Essequibo

Although there have been constant downpours, the conservancy in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) continues to remain at a very low level thus affecting rice farmers in the region.
Presently, there is little or no water in the trenches which will ultimately delay the planting of this crop of rice.
Some farmers who went ahead with planting thinking that the water woes would be remedied are now fearful that they might lose the entire crop.
They now depend heavily on the rain to keep the land wet until water can be pumped from the conservancy.
Regional Vice Chairman Nandranie Coonjah, who has responsibility for drainage and irrigation, has since visited the conservancy at various locations and found that the water level is extremely low and the only hope now is the continuous downpours.
Farmers are advised not to go ahead with cultivation given the present situation. Meanwhile, farmers are concerned about the delay in cultivation and how it will affect them in meeting their deadlines for repayments of loans to the various financial institutions.
As such, they are calling on the Government to intervene but more so, they are calling on the lending agencies to work out a solution that will assist them in repaying these loans.