Dear Editor,

PLEASE permit space in your letter column so that I can share my views on what has been happening in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) that didn’t happen from 2015-2020 under the previous APNU+AFC (PNC) Government.

I will consider Region Five as the main and most important agricultural region in Guyana because of its wide variety of produce in the agri sector, be it, rice, sugar (Blairmont Estate, the home of Demerara Gold and which always meets its target), cattle rearing, cash-crop cultivation (plays a very important role), etc.

Region Five has potential to better agriculture in Guyana, but under the previous government agriculture took a dip, especially in Region Five.  Many could have hardly gone back or planted their lands because of the rise in rates for rice farmers, etc.  With that said, I do not want to touch on rice further but on the small man farming their little pieces of land in various villages, be it their yards, in the backlands between rice field dams or elsewhere.

During the previous APNU+AFC(PNC) Government, those small farmers were taken advantage of in many ways, be it taken off their lands, no water, less resources being offered, etc.

Let me deal with the real issues that were affecting the small man planting cash crops.  They were targeted by NDCs with instructions from RDC officials (mind you not the council, but administration) in various ways.

I know many of those cash-crop farmers were planting on government reserves that weren’t used for years by any government and they invested a lot to get those lands into shape, so that they could have the best produce.

But the then regional top brass stepped in, branded himself an agricultural fanatic and started taking away the lands of some farmers in Fort Wellington and within various villages such as No.8, Bath, Paradise, Rosignol, Cotton Tree and other areas.  I was given a spot on that regional agri farm committee after the taking away from farmers at Fort Wellington to ensure that the lands are being used, but I also fought for farmers who were removed to be given spots at the northern half of said land.  Some took it and some didn’t.

That entire agri project was the worst ever that was developed in Region Five, while hundreds of millions was wasted. I used to call it the milking cow for the agriculture fanatic.  The real farmers who were employed were fired, because of race and almost 50 were hired who had never planted a bora seed or tomato plant, etc.

I stood up for those workers and after the produce was ordered to be taken to certain parts of Guyana and not sold to the locals in the region that would normally take cash crops to the city, I vented more concerns.  It wasn’t profitable to take those produce to that region, but the agri fanatic wanted to send a $25,000 worth of cash crops with an overall expense of around $50,000 and wants us to believe it was profitable.  That’s when I stepped out of that so-called farm committee.

The many farmers suffered major losses and weren’t given any assistance.  I begged the then agri minister to assist the farmers, but that was like throwing water on ducks’ backs.  I kept begging, but nothing.  The only assistance given to some farmers was when the PNC formed a party group in Bath Settlement; a few spades and shovels were given to a few.

In 2016 I organised many small farmers in Bath to put themselves together and form a cash- crop group after a talk with the then minister of agriculture.  The group had about 80 members and was growing.  They registered and a weekly meeting was kept.  I then approached the said minister to help the group with some agricultural tools, seedlings and other things needed, but again, yes to yes was given but it never happened.

I asked farmers in D’Edward and other areas to do the same and they too weren’t given help.  The only way help was given to some small farmers in Region Five is if the PNC ministers visited and they went to special areas where their party had groups.

The then government we all know had no vision for bettering agriculture.

In 2021 I see farmers getting access to many of the resources needed in getting back to their lands.  I see a solid agricultural model farm at Fort Wellington.  I see farmers across Region Five getting back into their lands and starting farming.  Grants are being given to farmers and necessary advice needed is being provided by the officials from various agencies in the agri ministry.

I know that cash-crop farmers are going to be better off now under this new government than before, because the previous government had no vision to widen and strengthen the small man’s cash-crop farms.

I must commend the Ministry of Agriculture for their quick resuscitation of farming groups and to ensure farmers’ needs are being met.  I must commend the Minister of Agriculture for his vision of ensuring that cash-crop farming is being looked after, because at the end of the day he does not have to send his security to Whim for some bora and shrimp, but can have access to that in Georgetown.

Across Region Five, farmers are back to their lands and I know that Region Five is going to make that ministry proud by being the best agricultural region in Guyana.

Yours sincerely,
Abel Seetaram
Former AFC executive and
RDC Region Five Councillor