OFFICIALS of the Mahaica/ Mahaicony/Abary Agricultural Development Authority (MMA/ADA) have condemned the actions of a few rice farmers in the Mahaicony backlands, who have resorted to tampering with the irrigation structures for their own benefit, to the detriment of hundreds of others amidst the ongoing El Nino drought conditions.
Chairman of the MMA/ADA Board of Directors, Dr Kenneth Sealey, has said that the persons engaged in this practice know that it is illegal and that the MMA/ADA will take the necessary action against them as a deterrent.
“We are urging all others — who may be similarly inclined towards this type of selfish activity in this crisis — to desist or face the full brunt of the law,” he warned.
Officials who visited the backlands in the vicinity of the Perth/Biaboo main canal saw instances where some, said to be a few farmers, had blocked irrigation channels in several areas so as to facilitate the buildup of water to serve their individual rice fields. They used Hymac excavators to install earthen barriers on the Perth/Biaboo main canal and the side canals which receive water from this channel. This caused a buildup of water in the canals near to their fields, and they were able to acquire supplies for themselves much more easily.
OTHERS ADVERSELY AFFECTED
But the blockages prevented badly needed supplies of water from reaching hundreds of acres on the cultivations north of the area, adversely affecting some 250 farmers north of the area.
A visit by the Chronicle has seen hundreds of acres of dried-out rice fields, which could not be irrigated because the level of water in the Perth/Biaboo Canal had not been allowed to build up. Additionally, in some areas, there were drainage pumps sucking water from the Perth/Biaboo Canal south of the blocked-off areas, thereby making it impossible for farmers to the north to receive supplies.
PROTEST
Angry farmers to the north, who had older rice plants, some at the flowering stage, vehemently protested on Sunday against this state of affairs. They are saying that the actions of a few with the Hymacs have condemned hundreds of acres to destruction.
South of the dried out areas, there were fields with young rice which, while not under threat, were over-irrigated with as much as six inches of water.
Commenting on the situation in the backlands, Dr Sealey said the problem occurred on Saturday night, and he had a firsthand look at it on Sunday. He said the blockages of the canals would be removed by the MMA/ADA today. The MMA will also ensure that the persons responsible for the illegal blockages pay for the cost of repairing the dams.
“We know who they are, and they will be required to pay for the repairs for the damage,” he said.
He said that if the farmers involved in the illegal blockages had been patient and had waited for five days, everyone would have had access to irrigation supplies.
OUTRAGEOUS LAWLESSNESS
Dr Sealey added that the MMA/ADA will increase surveillance of the backlands to ensure that the “outrageous lawlessness” does not recur.
General Manager Aubrey Charles said the MMA/ADA was providing maximum support to beleaguered farmers by operating irrigation pumps at Kuliserabo, in the upper reaches of the Mahaica River; at Big Biaboo, closer to the coastal north; and at Manoel, even closer to the front lands. This water is being continuously pumped into the Perth/Biaboo main canal, which serves irrigation channels in the backlands.
The MMA/ADA was also monitoring for salinity the river water pumped into the system, to ensure that it is suitable for irrigation purposes.
Despite the best efforts, however, some rice has been lost, as evident by dried out fields in the area. The full extent of the losses in this section of Region 5 has not yet been fully measured.
By Clifford Stanley
