ONCE again the unusual weather pattern is causing grave difficulties for the rice industry and farmers, threatening a serious adverse impact on their livelihoods because of possible lower production and productivity as a result of damage to thousands of acres of rice from flooding or from exposure to excess water. This brings into focus how important it is to tackle the global issue of climate change with urgency,for which Guyana’s ‘Champion of the Earth’ President Bharrat Jagdeo has been playing a leading advocacy role in the international arena, while some leaders whose countries have been largely responsible for the problem are non-committal or are vacillating.

According to the General Secretary of the  Rice Producers Association (RPA), Dharamkumar Seeraj, the situation is critical in Regions Two (Pomeroon/ Supenaam), Three (Essequibo Islands/ West Demerara) and Four (Demerara/ Mahaica). Regions Five (Mahaica/ Berbice) and Six (East Berbice/ Corentyne) are affected to a lesser extent, since farmers there planted their fields later than the other regions and these are not ready for harvesting.

However, the RPA General Secretary maintained his optimism that Guyana will reach its target of  4.4 million bags of paddy this crop.

“We have a higher yield this year, so while we will lose some acreage, the yield is higher, so we will reach our target,” he said.

The acreage sown in the regions was 35,500 in Region Two; 14,000 in Region Three; 6,000 in Region Four; over 70,000 in Region Five; and 47,000 in Region Six.

Seeraj explained that in Region Two, there are efficient drainage systems in place, but the adverse weather conditions are not permitting harvesting.

“There is (sic) about 18,000 acres ready, but the weather is not allowing it,” he said.
According to him, harvesting is also compounded by the condition of the dams, which are deteriorating.

“In Region Four we have a lot of paddy falling down because they have been under water for too long, especially in the Cane Grove area,” Seeraj said.

He acknowledged the suffering of the farmers, but noted that there is a limit to what could be done, with the excessive rainfall due to La Nina and the high tides that compound flood situations.

In Region Five, according to him, the affected areas are mostly in the riverine districts, such as the Mahaica Creek,where there is approximately 4,000 acres of rice to be harvested.

“Because of the lateness of the crop in Region Five, about 70 per cent of farmers’ fields will not be affected, since they are between 50 and 70 days old. The rice over 70 days old will be a problem where there are flooding conditions,” Seeraj said.

He pointed out that only about 7,000 acres of rice in Region Six falls over 70 days old.

Seeraj said, “Generally, the situation for harvesting is more difficult for Regions Two, Three and Four. Regions Five and Six only have pockets where the rice will be affected.”

Seeraj added that over the weeks, there has been an improvement in the prices farmers are receiving for their paddy, the maximum initially being $4,000 per bag, but is now $4,200.

So while there are some losses by farmers, it is good to hear the reassuring news from Mr. Seeraj that the target of 4.4 million bags of paddy could still be met and satisfying our traditional export markets is not under threat.

However, the problem of the unusual weather pattern will be here for a long time and, therefore, we need to look ahead and develop alternative means of assisting farmers when they are hit by ‘acts of God.’
In this regard, we should move with alacrity to implement crop insurance because we cannot allow our farmers to continue to suffer. After all, they put bread on the tables of the nation.

Crop insurance is already a reality in many developing countries like ours and is helping many farmers from going bankrupt. In the Philippines, for example, many poor farmers are being rescued by it.

The ‘Philippine Star’ newspaper of March 1, 2009 reported: “Unlike their forebears, farmers in this agricultural town have recognized the importance of crop insurance to their livelihood. And it’s a development that matches the increasing recognition for crop insurance as a key ingredient of agriculture and fisheries modernization among policy makers in government.”

“If there were no crop insurance, our cooperative would have collapsed a long time ago,” said Carlos Abrazado, chairman of Pindangan 2nd Primary Multi-Purpose Cooperative (P2MPCI) of this town.

Abrazado said the indemnity payment from the crop insurance programme of their farmer-members provided them funds to sustain their operations in the Philippines.

Guyana should, at the very least, do an initial experimentation with this programme, with the aim of implementing it for the benefit of our farmers.