-temporary relief measures remain in place

QUICK intervention by the Ministry of Agriculture, last Tuesday, has resulted in the receding of water in flood-affected areas in Black Bush Polder.
This is according to Region Six Chairman, David Armogan, who provided an update on the situation on Sunday. He explained that following a visit by Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha, and the implementation of a few temporary measures by the ministry, the floodwaters have begun to recede. The success of these measures was aided by the lack of heavy rainfall in the area within recent days.

However, with the uncertainty of the weather and the ongoing rainy season, it cannot be determined when farmers and residents will be able to return to a life of normalcy.
“We are continuing to work the sluice. We are continuing to work the pump and we have the machines that are clearing all the areas in Black Bush. Once rain falls with a level of intensity, it will always be water on ground and it will take time to come off. The water levels dropped in the last few days because the rain didn’t fall much,” Armogan said.
Currently there is 24-hour drainage and residents have formed a designated team to monitor the sluices and pumps to ensure that there is maximum drainage in the affected areas.
The National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) is also on the ground cleaning drains and canals.

The permanent solution, the Regional Chairman suggested would be to install additional pumps in the area which currently has two, to provide proper drainage and irrigation services and address issues of severe flooding during the rainy seasons.
“The permanent solution is probably to put in more pumps. We already got two pumps there and we got the sluices. We can’t put in more sluices because that won’t make sense. The only thing we could do is put in more pumps eventually,” Armogan said.
The recent flooding, he noted, has gravely affected cash crop and poultry farmers in the Black Bush area, especially those from Yakusari, Johanna and to some extent Mibicuri.
During a recent visit to the area, Devika Lekhram, a livestock farmer from Mibicuri, had told this publication that she lost three fowls, seven chickens and 10 ducks within the last week due to the flooding.

The woman, who appeared to be distressed at the time of the interview, stated that she has suffered a great loss which is a setback to her business and livelihood during the Christmas season. The woman was unable to give an estimate of her loses.
Anita Mohabir from Yakasuri shared a similar plight.
She stated that she lost approximately 50 baby chicks which is a setback to her business.
“Me get 100 fowl chicken but 50 dead out from that. All me duck dead. The whole back of me place flood out,” she said.
Thakoor Persaud, a cash crop farmer, explained that he too has suffered losses due to the floods and the poor drainage and irrigation systems in the area.
The man noted that even with very little rain, the area tends to flood tremendously, damaging the crops and livestock of the farmers.