Canal farmers upset over distribution of fertilizers

Jan 24, 2012 News

– claim selected farmers were beneficiaries

Scores of farmers from the Canal Number One West Bank Demerara (WBD) are upset that specific farmers were given bags of fertilizers as “flood relief” and that they were left out of the distribution.
Reports are that on Friday last, staff from the Ministry of Agriculture visited a location at Crane Village, West Coast Demerara (WCD) where they distributed between 16 and 18 bags of fertlisers to some farmers while others waited in vain.
Kaieteur News was told by one farmer who identified himself as “Nancoomar” that more than 200 farmers in the area suffered losses due to the recent flooding.
They were later asked to supply their names to a designated staff member of the Ministry of Agriculture for the purpose of receiving compensation in the form of fertilizers and pesticides.
When they arrived on Friday, expecting to receive the one bag of fertilizer each as promised, they were disappointed and annoyed to find out that only a list of less than 20 farmers was used to select those to receive this assistance.
“We waited long and we were being told that only 18 people on the list to get one bag fertilizer each. That is not fair. Some of us lose much more than some of them and to give such little bit and not give plenty farmers who need it too is not right. It is unfair. The Ministry of Agriculture is in charge of this. They need to treat us equally,” said Nancoomar.
Other farmers expressed their dissatisfaction with the distribution initiative.
“How can they give so little bit people and make us all get hopes up after they come around to get a list of all who lose things? What method they use to determine who must get and who must not get?” questioned one irate farmer.
Yet another farmer stated that he was far from pleased with the incident.
“Some of those who get fertilizer bag didn’t even lose much. And then not like I bad talking or minding people business but some of these people ain’t lose nothing and they getting. It even got people who don’t even farm that getting benefits. So we who lose nuff should get something for we loss.”
Minister within the Ministry of Agriculture, Ally Baksh, in response to this told Kaieteur News that he was aware of his Ministry promising to give the farmers assistance but he was not certain about the extent.
“The Ministry did take the decision to give some assistance but I do not know the level of it. I think fertilizers are in it. But I don’t really know the extent of the assistance. You will have to speak with Lionel Wordsworth. It was him and his team looking after the assistance and such and they went there,” said Minister Baksh.
Meanwhile, Lionel Wordsworth, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) of the Ministry, has denied any involvement with the distribution of fertilizers to any of the farmers.
However, he did explain that the interventions which were made by the Agriculture Ministry have already been completed.
“We have cleaned the main drains at both Canal Number One and Canal Number Two and also removed the weeds. Works at the Belle West Housing Scheme, the Clay Brick Road and at De Buff have already been completed. So for the Drainage and Irrigation part we have completed our assistance there.”
Wordsworth told Kaieteur News that he was unable to comment on the farmers receiving bags of fertilizers on Friday.
“I’m sorry but I am not able to and I cannot comment on that situation,” said Wordsworth.

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Canal farmers upset over distribution of fertilizers

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