After Essequibo farmers complain…
RICE Producers Association (RPA) General Secretary, Mr. Dharamkumar Seeraj has criticised the way in which contracts are being supervised in Regions where the grains are cultivated.
He told a meeting on Monday in Anna Regina Town Hall, on the Essequibo Coast, that there is need for improvement in the supervision.
Among those present were regional officials and Agriculture Minister, Mr. Robert Persaud, who convened the forum to better understand the plight of rice farmers in view of the recent situation at Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara, as well as to gather information on the status of the present crop.
In attendance, too, were Chief Executive Officer of the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA), Mr. Lionel Wordsworth and General Manager of Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB), Mr. Jagnarine Singh.
One farmer complained that contractors receive money to build dams but wait until the planters are ready to reap and then work on sections.
It was then that Seeraj confirmed, to Minister Persaud, that this is indeed the case also in other Regions.
“What the farmers are saying is very much true. The contractors do not mobilise until farmers have done a substantial amount of work,” Seeraj stated.
He said, for that reason, there must be a better way to monitor the contracts and contractors should be made to act immediately on securing the awards.
Region Two Vice-Chairman, Mr. Vishnu Samaroo noted that many of the farmers do not accept jobs to help with land preparation but only complain.
According to him, the Regional Administration has no problem with farmers forming themselves into groups and take on small contracts to maintain the dams.
However, another farmer refuted the Vice-Chairman’s claims and declared that the officials are frustrating every one in farming communities on the Essequibo Coast.
The man called for the officials to be changed and his call was endorsed by several others.
Minister Persaud said quality work must be ensured in the region.
He said: “Too often, in this Region, I hear that work is being done in a substandard fashion. It tells me that something is wrong, I know the Region has constraints but, perhaps, it is time that there be a total re-examination of the manner in which these matters are managed.”
Persaud said drainage and irrigation (D&I) is important because, when the rainy season commences, in another eight weeks time, farmers will be in need of good quality.
“We need to re-look at the way in which we programme our dams maintenance. This is a burning issue because, every time you go out, farmers are dissatisfied with the quality of dams, their condition and even the programme to maintain, repair and service them,” he remarked.
The Minister said Government has been trying to avail more resources in support of the Region and, very soon, three excavators will be working on the coast to help with D&I.
Persaud said the Administration is also looking to purchase two more bulldozers for dam and access works in the Region.