| Craig farmers dragging a speedboat over a bridgeto access the other section of the river.More than 200 farmers of Craig Backlands, East Bank Demerara are calling on President Donald Ramotar and his Cabinet Minister in charge of Agriculture, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, to intervene in their plight with proper access to their farmland.They want the roadway prepared and the waterways desilted.Speaking on behalf of many of the farmers was Treasurer of the Good Success/Craig and Hope Farmers Development Group,China NFL Jerseys, Pooran Sanchar. He said that on many occasions hours are wasted at the Agriculture Ministry since it’s all about a “push around” from top to bottom.“They are telling us to grow more, and when you get the produce to sell there is no market. Right now I have workers on my farm. When they cultivate, reap and look over the farm it is very costly to maintain. I have to bring ration, come in daily and look over, pay for gas, pay workers, bring feed for livestock. At the end of the day it’s very hard to use the river access when it is silted,Wholesale Basketball Jerseys, shallow and engines on speedboat become damaged because of a silted river and no road access,” said Sanchar,Wholesale Jerseys Free Shipping, who is also a businessman.He said that there are many instances of theft. Farmers have only river access to their farmlands and this causes thieves to escape a long time before the farmer arrives.“Most farmers plant everything that sells in the market,China Jerseys Cheap, and our stocks are organic (fertilized with natural substances) so it’s the best quality. Now if we are to further develop and expand, access is a major issue. So there is a major need for a three-mile road from the access bridge to the farms.”“There is also a point in the river where farmers have to offload their produce to pull the speedboat across a wooden bridge to get access to the other side of the river to get out their produce; then they have to pack back the boat and try to make it through the silted waters to the roadway.”Sanchar who is also a General contractor said that farmers would even settle for a sand road to gain access by vehicle to their farmlands. “We have the knowhow to make a temporary sand road work, farmers contribute to feeding this nation and we are just asking for simple and basic services from the Government.”Chairman of the Good Success/Craig & Hope Farmers’ Development Group,Wholesale NFL Jerseys, Rawle McKenzie, said there is need for six miles of access road for the farmers to maintain their produce and to sustain their livelihood.“With over 450 acres of land being cultivated by farmers which includes cash crops, it’s necessary to them to request basic assistance from the Government and relevant authorities.” McKenzie underscored. “Not even a bicycle can be used to go into the back lands. It’s double the work and in some cases not feasible.”“There is a farmer,Cheap Jerseys Free Shipping, right now, who has 40 acres of cassava and its rotting in the ground because of no market and limited access.” Another farmer pointed out. “Some farmers have duck and chicken and other plans to carry in sheep,Cheap NFL Jerseys, pigs and goat which will enable them to balance their investment.”“We are appealing to the President concerning the amount of years we are farming and we have no papers, leases, title or any document to show that the land we are planting is ours since we have applied to all authorities and nothing is being done and no help is being given… our families have been in farming for 50 years.”“If you’re not paying tax on the land then there is lack of maintenance by the authorities. We don’t have no proper dam, no one can ride or drive to reach here. This is like 10 miles from Georgetown and people can’t event reach here by car, bicycle or 4×4, but people can reach Lethem by car or drive whatever they want.“But right here close to the city, farmers can’t even access their lands which supplies tones of produce to the markets.”He continued, “We are asking the government to come on board and deal with us and show some respect for what we do with contributing to feeding the nation. They are telling us to grow more and when we have supplies the government doesn’t have market to take off the amount of supplies.” |
