Acres of rice lands in Lima, Coffee Grove, Hampton Court and Sparta in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) are currently inundated due to excessive rain, coupled with poor drainage and irrigation.
Some of the flooded rice lands
Rice farmers in those areas are calling on the Regional Administration to act promptly in addressing the issue; the flooding was caused by excessive rain over the weekend. According to the affected businessmen, this situation is compounded by negligence of the Region Two Administration.
Currently the pumps that are supposed to assist with the drainage are inoperable and despite several reports made to the administration in the past, nothing has been done.
The farmers have complained that they are losing daily due to the negligence of pump attendants and officials of Region Two.
The Lima pump, which was recently commissioned by Prime Minister Mosses Nagamootoo, has been down for some time. The pump costs in excess of $192 million and according to rice farmers, they have not received the kind of service from the station they ought to.
Those affected are now pondering what the future holds, since they have invested sizeable amounts in their businesses.
During an interview with this publication on Monday, one farmer who cultivates 35 acres of rice, said his crop is presently two weeks old and is flooded. The farmer questioned who is there to represent them and why the pumps are not in operation.
“Before the rain could have even stepped in we went in to the administration telling the D and I workers that we would need the pump running. Up to now no one seems to care; rice farmers are always at a loss”, the farmer complained.
In Hampton Court and Sparta most of the front lands were submerged. The pumps in that area are also out of order.
Rice farmers have vented frustration, noting that if prompt action is not taken then their investments will be destroyed.
In the meanwhile farmers explained that they are still owed by two prominent millers for paddy sold crops ago and that they are subjected to a barrage of negative comments whenever they broach the subject.
Only recently at the statutory RDC meeting, Regional Vice Chairperson Nandranie Coonjah related that out of 13 pumps, two are out of order. It was then coalition councillor, Naithram, related that he was in possession of supporting documents to show that those pumps were out of order, and still receiving fuel. Up to 270 gallons of fuel was supplied to the inoperable stations.
