IT is with great fear and a confused state of mind that I pen this letter in your column. The fear of not knowing when we will get rains for our crops and the confusion of what to do next as a farmer. This El Nino situation has been increasing its effects since the water is not there any longer. I cannot throw blame on the Almighty since it’s his work; not only Guyanese are going through these periods of hardship. Every time I get frustrated and can’t get water for my crops, I just sit back and think of Haiti. Now this is a relief, since my father always use to say, “Boy, it could have been worse”.

I ask myself now, who can be blamed? Is it the Government, the people or the soil on which we plant? Again, we cannot blame any of them since this is the act of the Almighty.

But what I can say is that the Government through the Ministry of Agriculture has been standing side by side with its people to bring comfort and assistance in some form or the other.

I wish to say that the government has been trying its utmost best to provide assistance to the farmers of this country. Some time ago the rice farmers was given an assistance of $400M due to the prices they received. Only yesterday at the 8th of May School, Dartmouth on the Essequibo Coast, His Excellency Bharrat Jagdeo, and President of the

Cooperative Republic provided another set of assistance for cash crops and livestock farmers which total to $258M. Now, this again shows the government’s commitment towards the development of agriculture. And, I must commend the President for this gesture. It was said at that meeting that this was due to a cabinet document that was submitted by

Minister Robert Persaud, again, I can also say that this Minister has the farmers at heart.

I look forward to continue to work with the Governmental and non-governmental agencies to develop agriculture in this country since it’s my sole means of living and survival and no matter what happens, I will continue to do it. And I wish to remind my brothers and sisters out there, “It could have been worse.”