West Coast Berbice rice farmers seek intervention over MMA water supply crisis

(Kaieteur News) – Rice farmers on the West Coast of Berbice are seeking the intervention of higher authorities for a more reliable water supply arrangement, fearing that their crops are at risk.

The farmers’ concerns centre on the Mahaica- Mahaicony-Abary (MMA) Water Conservancy, which they said was closed before the originally scheduled date. The conservancy operates through a phased opening and closing system, and farmers told Kaieteur News that August 31 had been set as the closing date. It was reportedly closed on August 24, instead, they told this publication.

A meeting on Wednesday between at least 20 farmers and two senior MMA officials, however, failed to resolve the issue. With the conservancy currently closed, the farmers had requested a six-day extension of the water flow. Officials declined the request, reminding the farmers that the conservancy must be managed prudently. “We had enough water in May, we had enough water in June, we had enough water in July, even if the MMA did not open water as you claimed. That is not so. We had enough water in the system. If you don’t want to trap rainfall, then there’s nothing the government can do,” an MMA official stated.