Upper Corentyne Chamber concerned over rice, cattle farmers’ conflict

The Upper Corentyne Chamber of Commerce has expressed concerns over the ongoing conflict between rice and cattle farmers in Region Six. Only recently, Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha meet with the farmers but after no tangible results were seen, the Chamber is calling on the Minister to once more engage the farmers to resolve their issues.

Both the rice and cattle industries are very important to Region Six’s (East Berbice-Corentyne), as well as the country’s, economy.
The rice farmers allege that the cattle farmers have been deliberately allowing their animals to the feast on their crops, while the cattle farmers are alleging that the rice farmers have been illegally impounding their animals – many of which are being picked up on dams and other grazing pastures to be impounded.
Many rice farmers are themselves, cattle farmers also.
The standoff between the two sides escalated last month after officials at the Number 52-74 NDC were instructed to release cattle that were illegally impounded on two occasions.
President of the Upper Corentyne Chamber of Commerce and Industry (UCCCI) Hemchand Jaichand said despite a resolution being agreed on by both sides during their separate meetings with the Agriculture Minister, the issue still persists as rice farmers continue to complain that the cattle have damaged their crops.
Jaichand said he met with a group of rice farmers, who are members of the Chamber, and they claimed that the cattle owners have been cutting the barb-wire fence built to prevent the animals from leaving the 17,000 acre savannah.
“It was reported that one rice farmer was chopped and that matter is before the court so I don’t want to talk about it but if the issue is not addressed it seems that it will be a very serious issue,” Jaichand said.
The Chamber President said the body is seeking to have Mustapha meet again with Corentyne rice farmers along with the Chamber, in an attempt to bring a solution to the situation.
“I also believe that the cattle industry is a very important one and we as a responsible Chamber is working to see how we can have a good solution where both parties can be happy. No one will want to invest and lose, likewise the cattle farmers.”
Cattle farmers have been contending that the Government had instructed that all pounds be closed. However, rice farmers argue that the law provides for the impounding of animals.
Following the meetings with the two groups earlier this month, Mustapha had indicated that Attorney General Anil Nandlall was going to give a pronouncement on how the law should be interpreted.
That pronouncement is still forthcoming. (G4)