Today marks 21 days since agricultural farms in Plum Mitan have been under waist-high flood waters. The water, which flooded 1,200 acres of cultivated lands in the sleepy farming community following heavy rainfall on November 10, has destroyed approximately $20 million worth of crops in various stages of growth. In light of this, the farmers are urging consumers to brace for higher food prices for the upcoming Christmas.

The flood has disrupted the lives of 175 farmers. On Thursday, president of the Plum Mitan/Biche Farmers’ Association Hakim Mowlah called for the farming district to be declared a disaster zone by the Government. He attributed the widespread deluge to iron railings being placed at the end of the Main Line River, which has been trapping debris and litter. Mowlah said failure to dredge the three-mile long river was another contributing factor to the floods.

“Whenever the rain falls, the water from the river has nowhere to go and would back up in our farms,” Mowlah said. A tour of the area showed thousands of cucumber, plantain, pimento, melon, rice, hot pepper, corn, ochro and pumpkin plants, leaves yellow and wilted, were covered in water reaching the waist and knees. Rotten crops which gave off an offensive smell were also seen floating on the water’s surface.

Plum Mitan is the country’s second largest producer of rice, watermelon, plantain and cucumbers, the farmers said. Six pumps belonging to the Ministry of Food Production which were strategically placed in Blocks One to Four have been working around the clock to channel the water out. But Mowlah said it would take another two weeks for the volume of water to subside.

Declare Plum Mitan a disaster zone

“We are accustomed to the floods, but this is the worst we have seen in years. I think the Government should declare the area a disaster zone because of the magnitude of the situation,” Mowlah said. He said while the Government was focusing its attention on the collapsed Manzanilla Road, the farmers’ plights were being sidelined. He said it takes months for farmers to receive flood relief.

Many of the farmers complained that the compensation they received last year from the Government was a far cry from the actual losses incurred. Mowlah said in 2013 he received a mere $131 in compensation for his waterlogged field of pumpkins valued thousands of dollars. Meanwhile, Farmer Bhim Rampaul said farmers collected flood relief for lands that were not even under cultivation.

“Some farmers were even paid two and three times for the loss of one crop,” Rampaul said. Still counting the losses at his five-acre plantain field, Primdial Ramtahal said Christmas looked bleak for the entire farming community.

‘Disrespect to farmers’

Cucumber farmers Bisoondaye George and Sarindar Saroop, who estimated their losses at $400,000, took jabs at Food Production Minister Devant Maharaj for failing to visit the flood prone district. “This is disrespectful to the farmers. The minister should have at least paid us a visit to see the damage done,” Saroop said. Both men believe that cucumber, which is currently being retailed at $12 a pound, could increase to $16 for Christmas.

Other crops that are likely to see a hike for the Yuletide Season the farmers predicted are watermelon, tomatoes, ochro, hot peppers, pimento, plantain, sweet peppers and dasheen bush. On Tuesday, Cumuto/Manzanilla MP Collin Partap and Biche/Charuma councillor Glen Ram held a meeting with the farmers promising to address their concerns.

On Friday, Maharaj said a technical team from his ministry, comprising engineers and agricultural officers, has been working to bring relief to the farmers.

Ministry of Finance looks at crop insurance

Maharaj said one of the solutions to the flooding lies with a crop insurance proposal, which is engaging the attention of the Ministry of Finance. He said premiums paid towards the insurance would have to come from both the farmers and Government for it to work.

“It would be partly subsidised by the Government. Right now we pay on average $10 million in flood relief annually. We can contribute the $10 million towards an insurance firm, while the farmers pay a monthly fee. It can be beneficial for the farmers. They might get more than what we pay,” Maharaj said. Maharaj said his ministry has studied insurance models from India and Mexico, where it has worked.

Source - http://www.guardian.co.tt/