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BENGAL, CORENTYNE — As cattle continue to wreak havoc with the rice crop in some cultivated areas, the President of the Guyana Rice Producers Association, Leekha Rambrich, is appealing to farmers to keep their cattle away from rice growing areas.Recently,T. J. Logan Jersey, farmers within the Number Fifty-Two/Seventy-Four area and Black Bush Polder complained of some extent of damage to their crops. This is particularly so in Black Bush Polder.Rambrich said that,Dorian Johnson Womens Jersey, a fortnight ago, Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud handed out financial assistance to farmers for the purchase of posts and wire to fence the Lesbeholden Crown Dam.However,Jake Elliott Bengals Jersey, the farmers in the Mibicuri area are facing the same difficulty. At Yakusari, the savannah area is already fenced, and at Joanna,Dorian Johnson Jersey, there are no complaints forthcoming.The farmers in Lesbeholden expressed gratitude to Minister Robert Persaud for the quick action in preventing what could have resulted in the loss of their entire crop.A few years ago, Government distributed the entire Kokerite Savannah (aback Black Bush Polder and in front of the Canje River) to cattle farmers with the hope that they would develop their independent pastures.Mr. Rambrich claimed that very few farmers made use of the facility. This is one of the main reasons why such problems exist today.In the Number Fifty-Two/ Sixty-Six area,Marcus Williams Womens Jersey, the cattle and rice farmers are in the process of rehabilitating the aligning fence that borders the rice cultivation and residential areas.Recently the Region Six Administration and the National Dairy Development Programme gave some assistance to facilitate this process.While this is ongoing, rice farmers still face some difficulties. It is alleged that some of the restrictions have been deliberately destroyed by some unscrupulous cattle farmers, thus allowing for cattle to roam freely in the rice cultivation areas.“I am appealing to these unprincipled cattle farmers to desist from this practice,Chris Godwin Youth Jersey, so that we do not continue to bear these losses in the rice sector.”The conflict between rice and cattle is a longstanding one; but in recent times the situation has been curbed, but only to an extent.Mr. Rambrich indicated that there are enough plots of land that both categories of farmers can ply their trade. “We have the entire Number Fifty-Two/Sixty-Six cattle pasture, which is approximately18,000 acres, available for cattle in that area. The Kokerite Savannah is a vast plot of land also available. Additionally, land is available in several other areas,Simon Mignolet Jersey, regardless of their place of residence.” |
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