- additional machines to be deployed to empolder vulnerable areas
In response to the heavy rainfall over the past 12 hours, which resulted in severe flooding in sections of Johanna and Yakusari, Minister of Agriculture, the Honourable Zulfikar Mustapha, today visited the affected communities in Black Bush Polder to engage with residents and farmers and to initiate immediate relief efforts.
During his visit, the Minister met directly with flood-impacted residents and farmers, who highlighted the significant challenges they are currently facing.
While engaging the affected residents, Minister Mustapha said that the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) has been working around the clock to implement measures to ensure flood waters recede as soon as possible.
“Johanna and Yakusari were the areas most affected. We are working with NDIA to ensure all of the necessary systems are in place,” Minister Mustapha stated. “We have three pumps that are operable, and the sluice at Number 43 Village is currently working around the clock. We’ll continue to monitor the situation here to ensure flood waters recede as soon as possible.”
Minister Mustapha said that extension officers from the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB), the National Agriculture Research and Extension Institute (NAREI), and the Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA) have been mobilized and are currently conducting assessments to determine the losses.
“Some cash crop farmers have reported losses. So far, there have not been any major reports of rice losses, as areas like Yakusari have only sown about 300 acres to date,” Minister Mustapha explained. “In Johanna, approximately 1,800 acres have been sown, and we’ll be monitoring the situation to ensure there is maximum and timely drainage. We will also be evaluating what forms of assistance can be offered, such as input support, to help affected farmers recover.”
Highlighting the urgency of the situation, the Minister noted that more than four to five inches of rainfall were recorded in the Black Bush Polder area within the past 12 hours, as confirmed by the Hydrometeorological Service. He also said that the NDIA will deploy additional machinery to the area to empolder vulnerable areas in the Polder.
“The major work to be done now is to get the flooded areas drained,” he emphasized. “This is an ongoing process, and we’ll continue to work around the clock. I have also instructed the NDIA to deploy additional machinery from as early as tomorrow to help empolder some of the most vulnerable areas in these communities.”
Minister Mustapha also urged farmers and residents to desist from tampering with the drainage and irrigation structures. He said that there have been signs of tampering, which have compounded the situation in the area. He told the farmers that additional resources will also be utilized to monitor the structures, and anyone found tampering with drainage and irrigation structures will face the force of the law.
Minister Mustapha was accompanied by Regional Vice Chairman, Zamal Hussain, senior technical officers from the Ministry of Agriculture, as well as representatives from key agencies, including the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA), the Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA), the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI), and the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB).
