Latest update January 18th, 2025 2:52 AM
Farmers upset due to poor irrigation systems of Hope Canal project
By Nicholas Peters
Irrigation is a vital component in farming as it provides the necessary regulatory
Irrigation in place for farmers in Hope backlands
measures needed for crop production. However for farmers surrounding the East Demerara Water Conservancy (EDWC)’s Hope Canal project, irrigation has become an issue of troubling concern, and is hindering their livelihoods.
Since the construction of the $3.6B facility, farmers in the backlands of the East Coast Demerara community of Hope have been plagued by irregular irrigation problems which have resulted in loss of crops. The Hope Canal project was expected to be the answer to the flooding experienced in the Mahaica/Mahaicony/Abary (MMA) areas during rainy periods, and would be operational as the rainy season sets in.
The Hope farmers have said that their crops are under threat from flooding and uncommon drought. According to them, they were advised that such irregularities would not happen, since the EDWC’s Hope Canal would prevent such losses and increase production. To their dismay that has not happened.
“Since the construction of the canal our crops suffered big losses,” said farmer Roy Doodnauth, “last month (March) we lost three crops already”.
He explained that the irrigation systems which were in place before the construction of the canal have now been cut off from their regular paths since construction started. This has resulted in the poor flow of water to crops causing the huge losses.
Doodnauth highlighted the issue of the lands which farmers sold to make way for the Hope Canal being over-cultivated with rice crops. This has posed a troubling issue for the farmer as the rice farmers are continually encroaching on the surrounding crops and further damaging what little harvest they have.
Doodnauth related to this publication that as of yesterday the problem continues to persist, with crops “drying up” as a result of the poor irrigation in place.
In further explaining the situation of farmers in the area, another farmer, Curt Washington said that the irrigation trench which was set up is “ineffective” in its operation.
“When the rain falls we getting a flood and when the dry weather comes there is limited water,” said Washington, who emphasised that the trench is not properly maintained which is the reason for the faulty irrigation.
“The water isn’t being diverted properly and it’s affecting how we make a living,” said Washington. This is despite being promised that an irrigation system would be set up with the farmers’ interest in mind.
Raising the same concerns was Ferose Mohamed. He said that as a farmer with a variety of crops like bora, squash and baigan, the poor irrigation system is dealing a huge blow to his livelihood. Mohamed related that he has talked to the managers connected to the Hope Canal project, but has seen little to no improvements on the situation.
“The trenches are not cleaned and that’s just adding to our problem,” said Mohamed. He explained that the irrigation system set up by the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) was meant to supply water to not only Hope, but other villages along the EDWC.
According to Mohamed, and the rest of the farmers, this has caused an added strain on the water supply and further compounds the problem they face with their crops.
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