Rice farmers who are preparing to harvest say their crops would be affected if the (MMA/ADA) decides to raise the level of water in the canal to facilitate “late farmers.”
On Wednesday the farmers met with MMA General Manager Aubrey Charles to share their concerns on the issue. The farmers said that if the water level is raised water would seep into their rice fields and cause them to suffer losses.
In response Charles told them that the other farmers met with him on Tuesday and explained that they planted late because of rain and other problems and needed water to irrigate their fields. He said their crop is between 70 to 80 days old and they requested that the MMA open the irrigation system. Charles said the MMA was reluctant to comply due to the losses farmers who are ready to harvest would suffer but after consultations with Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud he was instructed try to accommodate both groups. Charles said MMA then “agreed to put water in the [main irrigation] canal at a certain level…” and that farmers would then be able to pump through the secondary canal.
But the farmers still objected saying that the irrigation period is from November 20 to March 12. They also said that there is enough water in the canal for the other farmers to pump and that the “MMA should stand liability if we lose we rice.”
Mohamed Raffoodeen of Armadale who is ready to harvest said a section of his farm needed water and he has been “pumping since last week…” He noted that if MMA increases the level in the canal and water gets into the fields that are ready for harvesting, the combines would not be able to harvest.
Farmer Ramnauth of Golden Fleece pointed out that “…if those farmers take the risk to plant late then they should have put systems in place to get water and not do so at the expense of other farmers… they can’t inconvenience other farmers.” He said too that “regardless of how much you seal the kokers [to prevent water from getting into other fields] water would still seep in.”
Charles responded that “as a government agency, MMA has the responsibility to see how it can help. He said that based on the acreage that requires water he decided to publicize the decision so that the farmers who are preparing to harvest would take precautions. Using a map, he also pointed out the areas where the farmers would need irrigation including Sections ‘A,’ ‘B’ and ‘C’ Onverwagt and at Area One at the back of the main irrigation canal.
During the meeting Charles attempted to contact Chairman of the Rice Producers Association Dharamkumar Seeraj – who was attending a field day with rice farmers on the Corentyne – by telephone but was unable to reach him. It was then decided that the matter “would be put on hold.” Later the minister told Stabroek News that the MMA was expected to meet with the farmers again that afternoon to determine how to assist the farmers whose crops need water.
