Dear Editor,

We refer to the letter captioned “Region two rice farmers will not lose their crop” (07.03.06) by Rajendra Prabhulall who states that according to the Vice Chairman Region 2 rice farmers will not lose their crop. This is totally misrepresenting the situation.

Many farmers have rice cultivation on lands slightly higher than others. With the recent dry spell Drainage and Irrigation in Region 2 failed to supply water in the higher region. Some fields became bone-dry and began to crack. The plants, which have about 65 days of critical period growth, started to wilt. At this stage, with no concern shown by D&I in the region, farmers decided that due to money already invested in the crop they had to do something. Many farmers can attest how much they had to pump to save their crop. Some pumped water in their fields as many as three times.

To say that farmers will not lose their crop is to understate the situation. Due to water shortage the plant growth has been affected. In addition, fertiliser could not be applied on time. With the pumping of water and the two facts stated above, farmers’ yields will be reduced.

Prabhulall stated that according to the regional Vice Chairman “adequate water was kept in all conservancies