– more needed for the small farmer, Mahaica Creek farmers
The end of  March is drawing near, and with it, La Nina phenomenon is expected to end; but its devastation has left its mark on several vulnerable sections of the coast, in particular the Mahaicony and Mahaica Creek areas.
Residents in these areas are not only battling with the excessive rainfall, but also with opening of the Lama and Maduni sluices to relieve the East Demerara Water Conservancy (EDWC) of excess water.
This saw a rise in the level of the Mahaica Creek and several sections of the dams being overtopped – a situation further compounded by a higher than usual spring tide.
The sluices have since been closed following a review of the conservancy’s level by the EDWC Commission and a reduction in rainfall.
Reports are that the Conservancy’s level has been stable and decreasing. The huge reservoir, which holds over 100 billion gallons of water, has a capacity of 59 Georgetown Datum (GD) and on average its levels range between 50GD and 57GD.
According to the EDWC Commission, the EDWC will continue releasing excess water into the Demerara River at Kofi, Land of Canaan five-door and Cunhia sluices.
“Persistent heavy rainfall, coupled with the current La Nina weather phenomenon, saw the water level in the East Demerara Water Conservancy rising to a threatening level, posing much danger to the integrity of the conservancy dam, which runs behind the East Coast Demerara and Georgetown areas,” a statement from the EDWC Commission said.
In the meantime, residents, more so the farmers, in the Mahaica Creek area, have welcomed  closure of the Lama and Maduni sluices, but have nonetheless suffered major losses.

Support Forthcoming
Through the Ministry of Agriculture, farmers have some amount of support at their disposal, intended to assist them to get back into production.
A $225M effort is currently being rolled out to bring relief to those farmers, with some $190M to be spent on improving drainage and irrigation capacity.
These interventions include providing seed paddy and fertilizers, veterinary supplies, replacement of livestock, planting materials, chemicals and emergency drainage and irrigation works, and assistance to have access dams repaired.
According to one farmer, Mr. Roopnarine Maniram, the Mahaica, Mahaicony, Abary Agricultural Development Authority (MMA/ADA) is also undertaking some works in the area.
He said, “The water gone down and I get lucky because I didn’t lose as much as I thought before. Out of 2,000 roots bora, I lose around 200,” he said,
Maniram said he is now working to save the other cash crops on his acre and a half of garden, as well as his 35 acres rice.
Maniram stressed that farming is the primary source of income for residents in the Mahaica Creek area, who have families to feed and clothe and children to send to school.
He expressed the hope that the assistance promised, apart from the fuel being distributed, will be delivered in a tangible way to help struggling farmers.
“I am not draining my land so I will not get fuel, but I hope the other assistance will help,” Maniram said.
His brother, Mr. Hanceraj Maniram, said his farm lands are still under water and his cash crops, in particular his tomatoes and bora, are lost.
“Mr. Ramkumar Mangru told the Guyana Chronicle that his farms are under similar conditions, “ducked,” and much of his crop has been lost.
“The help will take time to reach all the farmers, we know that, but at the end of the day is the small man that taking big blows,” he said.
An elderly woman, Ms. Hookadebie Chaiku, is among the small farmers who have suffered major losses, with entire sections of their fields devastated by the flood waters.
“I got 800 roots bora and about 500 ochro plus I got 28 head sheep…I get big loss,” she said.
Another farmer, Mr. Mohanlall Sukhram, known as ‘Teach’, have lost all his crops.

However, he stated that the flood waters are going down and some of the crops might be saved.
There has been talk about residents leaving the area because of the conditions, but Sukhram, who had told the Guyana Chronicle some time ago that life in Mahaica is “sweet living”, maintains his position.
“Life in Mahaica Creek is nice…only a few problems we have now and then,” Sukhram said.
The support to farmers is critical, considering that, economically, the agriculture sector contributes 35 per cent of Guyana’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP); 40 per cent of export earnings; employs 30 per cent of the country’s workforce and is an important food source for the population.

Infrastructure Improvements
General Secretary of the  Rice Producers Association (RPA), Mr. Dharamkumar Seeraj, who has been in touch with the rice farmers in the area, pointed out that efforts are being stepped up, particularly in the area of infrastructural developments, to ensure that farmers are supported.
He pointed to the recently opened Retrieve sluice and said the residents on the right bank of the Mahaicony will have greater measures of relief during periods of excessive rainfall.
Seeraj maintained that developments in the country are continuing to support farmers who contribute to one of the main economic drivers in Guyana.
“The Mahaica Creek area was swamp lands and when the drainage system was designed it was done in light of that fact; but over time there have been advancements and the area developed,” he explained.
In this regard, he noted that the Hope Canal will see the drainage system improved to ensure that the excess water from the EDWC has another channel for release, and the use of the Lama and Maduni sluices will be relieved.
“The RPA will always support investments in drainage and irrigation infrastructure,” he said.
The new northern relief channel at Hope/Dochfour on the East Coast Demerara is expected to boost the drainage capacity of the EDWC, and also provide relief to the Mahaica, Mahaicony, Abary and East Coast Demerara communities during periods of prolonged and heavy rainfall, as is currently being experienced.