Cash crop farmers continue to lose if proper mechanisms not put in place

Leslie RamsammyGeorgetown: With the current intermittent rainy season, Agriculture Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy has warned that cash crop farmers will continue to experience severe losses, if proper mechanisms are not put in place.

He said, however, that his Ministry is working to alleviate any possible loss for farmers.

Speaking to Guyana Times on Friday, Dr Ramsammy said any amount of excessive water can damage cash crops.

Farmers across the country, especially those in low-lying areas have already begun complaining about the losses they are suffering due to the heavy rainfall.

Recurring problem

Many on the Corentyne Coast, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) say they are their wits end, as the situation keeps recurring each year.

They complain that the excessive water which has swamped their farms takes a considerable amount of time to run off. And by the time it does, the vegetables are of no good use.

But Dr Ramsammy maintained that farmers need to be a little more watchful during these periods, pointing out that his Ministry has already begun to put support system in place for them.

“The cash crop farmers would have major impact because any kind of flooding would tend to damage cash crops and that is why we have been promoting climate smart agriculture where people are using grow boxes and elevating their cultivation into shaded farms.”

Difficult period

The Minister explained that it would be very difficult for his Ministry to protect farmers growing crops in the traditional way. The Ministry is also involved in a programme where its nursery is producing more plants so that in the event crops are destroyed, farmers could be assisted with seeds and plantlets.

The Minister added that this time of the year is always a difficult one for farmers along the coast. Agriculture, he noted remains the main economic activity for persons living within these areas.

“We are now approaching December and most of us know that this is a rainy season for most of the folks on the coast. Clearly, the rainy season has implication,” Dr Ramsammy told Guyana Times.

It is because of this that his Ministry is moving ahead with the work it usually does during this time.

“The main thing that we have to do now is to ensure that all of our pumps are working and our sluices,” he said, noting that all sluices and pumps are in working condition.

Desilting

The sluices, he expressed are being regularly desilted.

According to Dr Ramsammy, given the current rainy season, his Ministry has found itself between a rock and a hard place.

“We are dealing with areas with excess water and at the same time with an increasing demand of farmers for more water because the condition along the coast the country is not the same.”

During this season, he explained that citizens would expect that the Ministry would be dealing mostly with the drainage problems.

Needs vary

However, he explained that different parts of the coast have different needs.

“People are struggling with high levels of water that need to be drained. In other parts, the main problem is irrigation.

“But even nearer to where we are familiar with rain, there is an increasing demand for water. Some of the rain is slight and heavy at times.”

Dr Ramsammy said the rain is also affecting the sugar industry.

“Sugar does not need rain at the moment,” the Minister said.

Rice, he explained has been minimally impacted by the heavy rainfall as there is a small amount of rice to be harvested. The young rice needs water.

He said the major sluices in the various regions are being closely monitored.

Dr Ramsammy noted that keeping tertiary, secondary and primary canals clean is very important to avert any major catastrophy.

The Minister said he has initiated a programme where staff members of the key agencies of the Ministry are out, working more with the farmers.