Rice farmers plead for impounding of animals in Black Bush Polder
Aug 05, 2017 , http://www.kaieteurnewsonline....n-black-bush-polder/
…as cattle continue to destroy crop
By Malisa Playter Harry
Rice farmers along the Upper Corentyne continue to express frustration with the cattle farmers whose livestock have been damaging their crops since the Cookrite Savannah was flooded. The rice farmers stated that they have had enough with millions of dollars incurred in losses.
Speaking with this publication yesterday they called on Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo to remove the ban which he had placed on impounding animals in the area during the flood situation.
Cattle farmers who occupy the Cookrite Savannah in Black Bush Polder had highlighted their plight in May and pleaded for relief, since the savannah was heavily flooded due to the heavy rainfall and overflowing of the Canje Creek.
The farmers had stated that they had collectively lost several hundred head of cattle, along with several horses, due to the flood. As a result, the Prime Minister, in early July, met with the cattle farmers during a visit to Berbice and made the decision to cease the impounding of the cattle and have them moved to higher ground.
Rice farmers, however, are adamant that the cattle farmers have no regard for their rice crop.
Jagdeo Sookcharran, who presently has 60 acres of rice under cultivation argued, “The place flood and dem bring dem animals… awe give in to that, ‘cause the rice did small. Now the rice big, dem animals ah guh eat am out and nobody nah deh behind dem cattle, when dem cattle eat out the rice wha awe guh do?”
According to Sookcharran, it has been over a month since the animals were brought to the cultivation land. He suggested that cattle farmers take their animals to the savannah in Number 52 Village, Corentyne, where the flood water has since receded.
“Number 52 savannah dry, dem can carry the animals there. We want the cattle to leave our farm immediately.”
The irate farmer disclosed that, “If me go report dem, nobody nah want hear. Me fed up, me ah plant meh rice, fuh mine me family, if dem animals eat it out”.
Mohabir Ramnauth, of Yakusari, Black Bush Polder, who currently has 72 acres under rice cultivation, is annoyed with two cattle owners in the area who have over 300 head of cattle. He is claiming that it is a deliberate act by the farmers, since there are other options to graze their cows. He further explained that, “This stage wha dem rice deh is a bearing stage, when dem cow graze in the rice and you tell dem man anything dem seh ‘Prime Minister say bring dem animals to the highland which is y’all rice land’… that nah right man”.
Over 100 farmers in the area are said to be suffering from the cattle destroying their crops.
Ramnauth is of the opinion that the ongoing issue between rice farmers and cattle farmers may lead to serious problems, “This wha ah go on right now might end with a big fight or something, because them a mine animals to live and me a plant me rice to live”.
Meanwhile, in an effort to receive some sort of positive word that will benefit them, the rice farmers paid a visit to the Prime Minister’s Office in Region Six.
The Prime Minister’s representative Gobin Harbhajan, speaking with reporters, stated that a report of the complaints was sent to the Prime Minister and the Minister of Agriculture, Noel Holder.
“For the past two weeks, rice farmers have been complaining about some cattle farmers who are taking advantage on the pound restriction, I am waiting on feedback with regard to the restriction,” Harbhajan divulged.
He also made mention that the Canje Creek water has receded some 14 – 15 inches as of yesterday, this he noted, means that “the Cookrite Savannah is draining, but not as fast as we would have wanted it to drain, but it is draining presently”. He stated that other areas that were flooded, such as the Number 52 pasture, are out of danger.
