Mega fruit producing farmlands in West Bank, Demerara

Aug 12, 2016 Letters

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Dear Editor;
Editor’s note; this is the concluding section of this letter which first appeared in our Wednesday’s edition
There must be no talk about selling Wales’ lands. These are lands firstly for equity for the former sugar workers, both manual and administrative. Since Wales will be endowed with vast amount of arable land, this land must be developed specifically for residents of the West Bank. These citizens have waited since enslavement times for the better life. The experiment we talk about here will have to be discussed between the residents of the West Bank, be they sugar workers, cane farmers, householders and villagers, residents of the Canals for their valuable experiences, all who wish for the better life, and Central Government. These deliberations will take time, patience, empathy and the motivation to make the project work in the interest of the citizens of the area, and the country.
Incorporating the writings and comments of several commentators: F. McLean, H. Rahman, D. Singh, C. Sohan, R. Dev and Dr. Cummings into the narrative of taking Wales further, we wish to state the following and thank those named for use of their views:
McLean: I can state that from agronomic studies and research done there in my time on the Wales’ soils ranging from the aluminum toxic heavy clays to the organic pegasse soil type, it clearly showed that there were benefits from intensive hand work – forking and shovel work – and fertilizer additives which have now become costly in today’s context and can be best done only during favourable weather. Additionally the high rainfall in West Demerara will generally prohibit effective mechanical operations at the best of times. The inability to sustain these costly amelioration operations has, over time reduced sugar yields, consequently progressively affecting the economic and financial viability of the estate.
With the pending closure of the Wales estate some thoughts for the future may be considered. From a crop diversification perspective the Canal Polder areas adjacent to Wales is known for its fruit, vegetable and ground provision potential and already supplies the local market and exports to a small extent. From national, economic consideration, the challenge is to upgrade this potential for a bigger export market by a combination of a labour intensive and mechanised production initiatives. Cut flower is also a potential for the export market as l know that haliconias and some lilies grow well on the organic soils in the West Dem. areas. The development of some non-traditional fruit may be considered for export.
Doodnauth Singh: Mr. Singh does not wish to cut the umbilical cord from sugar thereby making way for the Pheonix syndrome. Sentiments aside, we must prepare for a new beginning. He advocates limited diversification which resembles what Mauritius did in the 1974 period. They succeeded in their endeavour. Guyana’s attempt by GuySuCo OTHER CROPS Division was sabotaged by the very people who brought sugar flat on its back. Singh’s value added products and miscellaneous derivatives from the diversification augers well for the complete over-all diversification, taking in focus the vastness of the area, the land ownership –both statal, private, communal – as in the African villages. We will accept all his proposals and views except sugar at Wales, at least after 2016 plus a few more years, as the final solution may not be realisable until some time beyond the appointed date for closure.
Dr. Cummings, Geographer in his Occasional paper 1, has laid the ground work for the development of the lands within Demerara and Essequibo Rivers. He provides sufficient material for the understanding of the conditions inherent in the Canal Polders which information could suffice for the entire area; that is the lands between the Demerara and Essequibo Rivers. The diagram of the lands between the rivers displayed in his book re-enforces the fact from the study of the lands that we can now put Dr. Cummings work to useful purpose.
In this matter where the closure of Wales will have serious adverse effect on the lives of its workers, Govt. will have to be encouraged to offer not only solace but an involvement with the people until such time that things go the way we envisage. The cane farmers themselves face double jeopardy. The transportation of cane to Uitvlugt may wipe out the farmers’ thin margin of profit, giving that farmers do not get duty concessions like gold miners on fuel and related items for use by their tractors and cane carts. The end of cane farming is in sight for the small cane farmer, whose transition to other crops will be costly. How will he and other displaced workers survive until they can put things right? Will Govt. establish a special fund to assist the cane farmer who will have to begin a new regime of agriculture? Will Govt. not want to make land grant to the sugar worker, and an interest free loan or an out-right grant for him to transition from worker to farmer? There will be imperative need for a stabilization fund at low interest rate, over a long pay back period. In some situations grant money should be available.
Because we are entering into a huge venture as has been discussed, there will be need to set up by Govt., a Land Grant College to teach farmers on the spot, that is on the land all the methods and techniques relevant to our agriculture. This institution will get its teachers from the senior staff of the defunct Wales estate and from graduates of the Guyana School of Agriculture and the University of Guyana. We should endeavour to make the Land Grant College a permanent feature, and in the process extend this facility to all parts of rural Guyana, especially in the hinterland. Government must without delay set up a Committee of Helpers comprising citizens from the West Bank Demerara whose main objectives will be in the interests of those who stand to suffer.
Hafiz Rahman

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