High tides sweep through Lower Pomeroon

…thousands of dollars in cash crops, other produce destroyed

Extreme high tides over the past two days have swept through several farmlands in the Lower Pomeroon, Essequibo,

resulting in acres of crops being flooded. Cash crop farmers in the area are currently counting their losses as tonnes of pumpkins and blooming plants are submerged in water.

On a visit by Guyana Times International to farmlands in the Lower Pomeroon on Wednesday, many acres of cash crop were submerged due to sporadic high tides.

Cash crops such as corn, pumpkin and watermelon were under salted water.

Francis Raymond from Grant Unity, Lower Pomeroon, told this publication that his two acres of pumpkin is presently under water. The farmer, who is owner of 15 acres of land, sadly said he will lose thousands of dollars in pumpkin due to the high tides.

Raymond said his farmland is under water for approximately two days and the pumpkins are beginning to rot. The cashcrop farmer said his produce was in the flowering stage and was expected to be harvested within a week’s time; however, due to the high tides and poor drainage in his area, he lost his entire crop.

The farmer said on his 15 acres of land, he cultivated eight acres of coconut and five acres of plantain.

He said this year; he decided to cultivate pumpkin and now is discouraged due to the flooding. The farmer said he was hoping to earn to provide for his family; however, due to the flooding, he is now counting losses.

When asked what exactly is the main contributing factor to his farmland being flooded, he said “the natural springtide and lack of poor drainage” in his area. He explained during last month, he paid extra to empolder his land, but noticed there is still more building up of the land to be done.

The farmer is calling for the front embankment in the Fear Not area to be upgraded so that farmlands can be cushioned against flood waters.

Many other farmers in the area also faced with similar problems are calling for improvement in drainage and irrigation in the Fear Not community, Lower Pomeroon. Farmers in the areas of Grant, Fear Not, Malbourgh and Hackney are suffering huge losses due to the high tides.

The government of Guyana through the Agriculture Ministry is presently investing millions in the Upper Pomeroon River (other side) to build embankments to safeguard farmers in Kabakaburi and other Amerindian communities.