By Mark DaCosta- Residents and farmers in Black Bush Polder are once again battling severe flooding, highlighting the precarious state of the nation’s agriculture and long-standing inadequacies in managing the region’s drainage systems. Persistent rainfall over recent days has inundated several communities, disrupting crops, yards, and livelihoods.
On Sunday, President Irfaan Ali announced that the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) has implemented relief measures to assist affected farmers and residents in Black Bush Polder and surrounding areas along the Corentyne Coast. The affected communities include Lesbeholden, Mibicuri, Johanna, and Yakusari.
Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha visited the area to meet farmers and assess the situation. In his response, he stated, “I have instructed the regional engineer to deploy five machines to aid in water removal.” President Ali added that eight excavators are currently operating in Yakusari, Johanna, and Mibicuri, while small mechanical pumps have been placed in residential areas and a large mechanical pump is being installed at Number 43 Village.
The flooding has been particularly severe in Johanna and Yakusari, where rainfall exceeded four to five inches within a twelve-hour period. While Minister Mustapha sought to calm fears surrounding the rice sector, stating, “I don’t think rice farmers would have suffered any major losses,” experts warn that young plants and other crops remain vulnerable to prolonged flooding. Uninsured farmers risk significant losses if water levels do not recede quickly, especially given the low market prices for their products.
The impact on cash crops has been devastating, with peppers, tomatoes, and leafy vegetables reportedly suffering near-total losses in Johanna due to stagnant waters and root rot. Livestock have also been affected, with many cattle and smaller animals stranded or drowned. Residents note that these outcomes are worsened by the lack of financial safety nets or insurance, leaving farmers reliant solely on government support.
At the heart of the crisis lies the chronic inadequacy of Black Bush Polder’s drainage infrastructure. Despite assurances from Minister Mustapha that “the pump stations and sluice gates in the Adventure, Eversham, and Number 43 Villages are working well,” residents say the floods tell a different story. Many expressed frustration on social media, with one post declaring, “Minister Zulfikar Mustapha, you need to get up and head to Black Bush immediately because the residents are experiencing flooding, despite the hundreds of billions that have been spent on drainage. Where did the money go?” This public outcry reflects growing disillusionment in the area, where citizens feel abandoned amid repeated environmental crises.
The flooding exposes broader vulnerabilities in Black Bush Polder’s agricultural sector. Reliance on ageing, gravity-fed drainage systems with limited pumping capacity has repeatedly proven insufficient to cope with heavy rainfall. Experts warn that prolonged inundation could trigger significant crop failures, threaten food security, and deepen economic hardship for farmers already facing rising operational costs and declining market prices.
While the government’s emergency measures provide temporary relief, residents and agricultural stakeholders stress that long-term structural improvements are urgently needed to prevent recurring flooding and safeguard the livelihoods of Black Bush Polder communities.
