By Sue-Ann Wayow
OVER 80 acres of cultivated lands were destroyed due to flooding in the Aranguez district.
That is just one of the many areas where crops have been destroyed as a result of the incessant rainfall and high rivers since last week.
Minister of Agriculture, Lands and Fisheries Kazim Hosein met with the Aranguez United Farmers Association on Wednesday to hear their concerns.
Since floods in June, an additional 250 acres have been under water, Hosein heard.
The minister had stated that farmers once legitimately affected would be compensated for their losses.
President of the Association Pundit Satyanand Maharaj told AZP News that farmers were still awaiting compensation from 2018.
In addition, many farmers worked on lands not belonging to them and therefore could not have accessed grants.
He said before, by 2015, the Ministry’s extension officers would have assessed those farmers and compensation would have been granted.
Maharaj said Hosein who was sympathetic towards the farmers’ predicament, promised to do what he could to assist.
The farmers suggested raising the San Juan river bank which was the main cause of the flooding, he said.
Maharaj also said with a large amount of flood-damaged crops across the country, “the public is going to take a beating,” as it relates to vegetable prices.
