Significant amount of crops destroyed as a result of flooding
Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha
Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha

–says ‘Agri’ Minister

AN ongoing flood assessment has so far revealed that a significant amount of crops from areas that have experienced severe flooding over the past two months, have been destroyed.
This was disclosed by Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha, during an interview with Brazil’s AgroMais News.
“Over the last two months, we’ve experienced unprecedented rainfall which has resulted in flooding in all ten Administrative Regions of Guyana. Between May 24 and June 10, we’ve seen close to 20 inches of rainfall. This is the highest amount of rainfall we’ve seen since 1981.
“This has resulted in Guyana’s southern basin between the upper Essequibo and Corentyne Rivers being filled and overflowing. Many areas in the hinterland were also, and still are, flooded. Compounding that, with the heavy rainfall, we’ve seen higher than normal water levels in the rivers that have inundated most of the coastal areas. This has resulted in close to 90 per cent of crops being destroyed, livestock being lost, and close to a thousand households been affected,” Minister Mustapha said.
As floodwaters begin to slowly recede in several areas, the government has commenced its flood assessment to determine the extent of the losses incurred across the country.
Officials from the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) and officers from various agencies which fall under the Ministry of Agriculture have been visiting affected communities to gather data to determine losses. The minister said the government will need assistance with rebuilding the economy, moreso, the agriculture sector, when the floodwaters recede. “Guyana will need a lot of help in terms of rebuilding the agriculture sector. Apart from what the government is doing, we will need help from our regional and international partners.

Our assessment report will be able to detail our needs and those needs will then be made known so that countries who wish to assist us can know what we need.
“IICA has already indicated that they will be supplying a number of vegetable seeds and planting material for cassava and plantains, bananas as a part of the relief efforts,” Minister Mustapha said. The minister said too that the government is making preparations to effectively manage some of the likely impacts of the ongoing flooding. This, he added, includes the outbreak of water-borne diseases. “In addition to carrying out flood assessments across the country, health officials have also been closely monitoring affected areas for water-borne diseases such as leptospirosis and other conditions like unusual diarrhea, vomiting, and gastroenteritis. As a government, we are aware that an outbreak of such illnesses may be imminent so we are making the necessary preparations to ensure we have the necessary health facilities if an outbreak does occur,” the Agriculture Minister related.
The minister said, despite resources being limited, the government will continue to provide the necessary support to everyone who is affected.
“The immediate task of the government is to ensure those who were affected have food supplies and potable water. We will have to provide food for most of the areas that were affected, especially the Hinterland communities,” Minister Mustapha related. Minister Mustapha said the government will continue to offer support until affected communities can return to some level of normalcy. (DPI)

SHARE THIS ARTICLE :
Facebook
Twitter
WhatsApp

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

All our printed editions are available online
emblem3
Subscribe to the Guyana Chronicle.
Sign up to receive news and updates.
We respect your privacy.