Requests to the Region Nine administration for food aid by villages in sections of the Rupununi may soon go unfulfilled as current supplies diminish due to mounting demands, Regional Chairman Bryan Allicock says.
In January, Regional Executive Officer Carl Parker had told Stabroek News that there was a risk of a food shortage if the severe drought at the time continued. Several months later, some villages are grappling with low supplies and have been asking the regional administration for assistance.
Speaking with Stabroek News last evening, Allicock said that while residents are thankful for the rainfall that ended the extended drought throughout the region, there is a food shortage in some communities and the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) has attempted to offer assistance.
He described the situation as one that moved from one extreme to the next. He explained that while the drought caused crops to shrivel and die, the heavy rainfall now causes waterlogging, and in several instances, caused a caterpillar infestation in some cassava farms across the Rupununi.
According to Allicock, the region has received assistance from both the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) and Food for the Poor in the procurement of supplies. However, he said, the supplies have dwindled as toshaos have been sending in requests for food aid almost every other day. The official said while the CDC had supplied the region with two truckloads of food just over three weeks ago, only a few items remain as the regional administration has responded to the requests of more than ten villages already.
The quantity of food aid that remains is only enough for distribution to four small villages at the most, he said. Allicock highlighted that villages in the South Rupununi continue to make the most requests as they were the ones most affected by the drought.
“We are trying our best to address the issue and offer as much assistance as we can to those affected,” Allicock asserted. He said that both the RDC and the CDC are working together to source more supplies. He also expressed hope that the rains would see more fish available for food.
“Once the rain continues like this, we are hopeful that the water level in the river rises high enough to allow the fish to swim upstream to spawn; if we don’t get this, we would be in trouble,” Allicock related.
So far, Allicock said, food supplies have been distributed to over ten villages in both South and Central Rupununi including villages like Parashara, Masakenari and Kumu among others.
It was also noted that Food for the Poor had donated three rotator blades to the RDC which were subsequently distributed to villages for use by residents in their farms. The non-profit organisation has also aided in the distribution process.
