Leguan’s entire rice crop ruined
![Arjune Raghuber](http://i2.wp.com/www.guyanatimesgy.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Rice-Field-2.jpg?zoom=2&resize=300%2C169)
Arjune Raghuber
As drought conditions worsen
– farmers cry foul over indebtedness, poverty
By Shemuel Fanfair
![Shalim Razack](http://i1.wp.com/www.guyanatimesgy.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Shalim-Razack.jpg?zoom=2&resize=300%2C169)
Shalim Razack
As dry weather patterns prevail across country, the livelihoods of many Leguan, residents are threatened since many rice crops are being destroyed.
On Friday Guyana Times interviewed several rice farmers who said conditions have become so dire that only 38-40 acres out of the usual 4000 were planted.
![Arjune Raghuber](http://i1.wp.com/www.guyanatimesgy.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Arjune-Raghuber.jpg?zoom=2&resize=300%2C169)
Arjune Raghuber
One farmer said that around 20 acres have been damaged by the dry conditions. It was explained that since Leguan has no conservancy water storage system, salt water from the Essequibo River had to be mixed with already depleting “sweet water” reserves in trenches. This situation has not only hampered rice crops but cash crops as well as cattle.
![Chitranjan](http://i1.wp.com/www.guyanatimesgy.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Chitranjan.jpg?zoom=2&resize=300%2C169)
Chitranjan
Arjune Raghuber who has been around the industry over 60 years said he would usually plant 45 acres rice but observed that he attempted to plan 7 acres this season. He claimed that he invested some $140,000 but has seen no returns since none of the crops has yielded results. Raghuber had hoped that the rain would have saved his fields.
“De salt water kill am, if it de rain it would help am,” Raghuber explained. He noted that this entire situation is “very hard” and claimed that the miller owes him $350,000. He said that because of his declining finances, he would have withdrawn from savings and further noted that he wasn’t sure what would become of him.
![Mahendra Tularam](http://i0.wp.com/www.guyanatimesgy.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Mahendra-Tularam.jpg?zoom=2&resize=300%2C169)
Mahendra Tularam