Mega fruit producing farmlands in the West Bank Demerara areas

Aug 10, 2016 Letters

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Dear Editor;
By now the matter of the closure of Wales Sugar Estate as a sugar producing entity can be regarded as a done deal. Govt. must be committed to making the tough decisions needed to get the economy on track in the midst of falling commodity prices. It is only natural that Govt. sees agriculture which has been a main pillar of the economy for decades, not just to reduce the food import bill but to create much needed jobs, diversify the economy and stimulate growth.
GuySuCo has been in dire financial and administrative straits over the past few years and has been receiving billions of dollars in bailout from the Govt. with another twelve billion earmarked for 2016. Yet the industry is not showing signs of recovery. In 2015, the sugar corporation collected $17.2billion in sugar sales, cost for wages amounted to $21.6billion for 16,000 workers. There is this information known to all except those with their heads in the sand- GuySuCo produces sugar at 43 US cents per pound and sells the same sugar at 14 US cents per pound. We must move on to the realisation that sugar has had its days, at least at Wales. Now the future beckons.
In the history of agriculture in the West Bank from enslavement times, change in crop type has been effected several times. Diversification of crops has been introduced in enslavement times from indigo, when indigo could be obtained from India and Java at lower prices. From cotton when the USA could produce cheaper with slave labour. From coffee then to sugar. Change or diversification in crop type has been used in West Bank areas, if not fully beneficial, at least there have been the instances when the plantocracy ensured their survival.
The Canals Polders ( these Canals were excavated by enslaved labour ) are the modern equivalent of justified diversification, and since that process spelt confidence in the choice of crops, then the case can be made for over-all diversification of the entire West Bank, from Vreed-en- Hoop to points beyond Kamuni Creek to the south, and by the same evidence, right up to the Essequibo River to the west, where water resources can be gotten from the Essequibo, and all the lands now forming the West Demerara conservancy, all the 22 plus miles by 10 plus miles converted to productive farmlands. At this present time of the 7 years cyclic drought, the West Demerara Conservancy is running dry. The drought is in its 3rd or 4th month. It is scheduled to last until April 2017 and already farmers are losing crops.
The spread out of the coastland population into new land development areas would be the new gold strike for Guyana and its role as food basket of Caricom. People in agriculture translate to self-employment, agro industries, cottage industries, other employment opportunities; the creation of other jobs through the providing of goods and services.
The lands between the mighty Essequibo and the Demerara rivers may not have gold, there is talk of aluminum deposits, and some timber lands in the vicinity of the upper Bonasika creek. These lands however are suitable for agriculture, the basic industry; and the only proper and assured employment. As stated above, it lay between two mighty rivers, and extends in direction to the vast interior of the country. We should creep into the interior, and not pick up ourselves and re-locate to where we have to provide all the necessities for life in the 21st century.
Herein lies the future of this country, with its close proximity to the City; seaport, airport, closeness to investors who can get to and from the areas in a short journey. The population is spread out in productive capacity, and we do not have house lot/house spots popularly referred to as postage stamp size house lots… We offer citizens land upon which to build their future and to enjoy the good life for themselves and posterity. .
We will have to initiate change and development by starting with ourselves. Values cannot be imparted by nice speeches, or newspaper articles. Values are performative, that is, they can only find and offer meaning through action. We, who want to change the decadent morality of our society will need to practice the values we preach; live and work among the ordinary folks, who are the organic intellectuals, and who know about the hardships faced in their daily experiences, who are the salt of the Earth and who do not have the luxury to plan or express ideas. These are persons who are easily dismissed.
They are taken for fools. Their insights are seen as to be inferior by those who think that they are superior in intelligence, education, job position or social status. Too often, the decision makers pursue their own agendas, without assessing local knowledge, relying on consultants who do not speak English, who make little or no effort to interface with local people, the recipients of the proposed study/consultation, and who would be in shambles understanding our Creolese.
The project to create a mega fruit and vegetable and other crops development is not new to Guyana’s agriculture development. We have had drainage and irrigation works at Boeraserie-Bonasika, Tapakuma, Black Bush, Mahaica- Mahaicony-Abary, and lesser Land Development Schemes all across the coastlands. That they may not operate to their maximum capabilities is cause for complaint. We must do as is required to make these areas one hundred percent efficient. The short-fall caused by natural and human factors has to be remedied. The maintenance of the above systems falls down due to human errors which are correctable through the involvement of the receivers of the services.
Hafiz Rahaman
Coordinator
Rural People –NGO
Editor’s note: Because of its length, this letter will conclude in tomorrow’s edition

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