Only two of nine pumps functional in Capoey

– Relief works promised from tomorrow

With hundreds of acres of Essequibo rice lands at the mercy of flood water, engineers in Region two, Pomeroon/Supenaam are slated to begin works in Capoey, Essequibo Coast, by tomorrow.
When Kaieteur News contacted Regional Engineer Jafaun Permansingh yesterday, he noted that one factor in the excess flooding is the erosion which has been developing over the years.
He admitted that the sluices and excavators were not working, hence when rainfall averaging a little over high-intensity came, there was flash flooding after the drainage trenches overtopped.
Permansingh noted that repairs to the sluices are not one hundred percent guaranteed to work, but at the moment mobile pumps are being employed.
There have been reports that the lack of maintenance of the drainage and irrigation systems in Region Two over the years has caused excess siltation, another factor that precipitated the flooding of rice lands between Sparta and Windsor Castle, Essequibo Coast.
There are also reports that the regions have been plagued by mechanical issues. One reason is vandalism; flagged as contributing to the non-functioning of several of the heavy-duty machines and other equipment.
As regards functioning pumps in the region, it is understood that seven of the nine pumps are not operational.
Rice farmers emanating from Sparta/Windsor Forest have been calling for (Agriculture) Ministry’s intervention, with many of them fearful that their investment into the current rice crop will be lost.
There have even been fears that the flooding will extend to residential lands.
These farmers recently paid a visit to the Regional Vice Chairman Nandranie Coonjah in order to have their concerns addressed.
With replanting having only recently begun, the floods are proving detrimental to any seedlings that might have been planted. Farmers have had a rough year. While the year has seen record-breaking productions, there has also been a consistent delay in being paid by millers for paddy supplied.
The Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) recently released some $660M to rice millers for the supply of rice to Panama.
GRDB’s General Manager (ag) Nizam Hassan explained last Saturday that this was the payment that Guyana had received from Panama for its supply of almost 7,500 tonnes of rice. The GRDB had also said that all millers have been paid in full.
“This payment was made on the second contract for rice supplied to the Spanish-speaking country between September and October 2015. With payment arriving in such a short time, GRDB is confident that this can be seen as a start to the potential end of lengthy waiting periods for rice payments, by farmers,” a statement from GRDB’s public relations firm had said.
GRDB is also said to be working closely with stakeholders to address the ongoing challenges farmers face in receiving early payment from millers for paddy sold. However, the low price farmers have been receiving for paddy (per bag) has already put many of them under financial strain.