Cattle farmers in Black Bush Polder, Corentyne have begun relocating their animals from the Kokerite Savannah to the front lands since according to them the savannah remains flooded and they are not waiting until the water rises further.
Asif Azimulla, 24, of Johanna, Black Bush Polder, yesterday told Stabroek News that he and his father have already brought out around 250 animals from the Kokerite Savannah. According to him, they have about 300 animals remaining in the flooded savannah and are making efforts to bring them out as well.
Azimulla was yesterday adamant that they won’t allow their animals back into Kokerite Savannah unless the water is drained as they cannot afford another huge loss like last year. “Lil bit more and the water gone flood over the dam again so we start bring them out, we na take them back, we na take them back”, he stressed.
The young cattle farmer, who has been in the business all his life, called for drainage works to be carried out in the savannah urgently. “We need drainage, we need the water to drain, only then we can go back.”
Another cattle farmer, Alister Rajkumar, of Yakusari, Black Bush Polder, has brought out over 500 head of cattle already. “The place so bad we can’t really go in back yet to bring out the rest. Them this we walk out with horse.”
Both men said that they are confused as to what they will do when rice farmers who occupy the front lands will soon want to plant.
“Them (rice) farmers done a fight… Rice go start cultivation and them farmers a fight”, Rajkumar explained.
Azimulla also shared the same sentiments adding that rice farmers are already asking them to remove their animals. “We go get nuff problems when they start plant, we na know what to do… We need someone to come here and see the situation.”
Furthermore, the men also pointed out that they do not have adequate grazing area in the front lands for the animals being relocated from the savannah, as according to them several other cattle farmers are also starting to relocate their animals. “And them animals deh in bare mud here”, Azimulla noted.
The cattle farmers are pleading with the authorities to visit the location and meet with them so that they can collectively come up with a plan before the situation worsens.
