Thousands affected by food shortages in North Pakaraimas, forced to eat young crops

By Nicole Telford- “We want food” that’s the cry of Guyana’s Indigenous People of the North Pakaraimas

Village Voice News reached out to several village operatives in the areas of the North Pakaraimas who said ‘Our people are harvesting young crops to survive.’ Some 20 villages inclusive of  Kwamang, Wowetta, Surama, Yakarinta, Apoteri, Rewa and Crash Water communities of about eight thousand residents are suffering.

We are not seeing anyone from the agriculture representative for the region coming in to deal with our issues, the said. “The monitoring time to plant and what to plant is not being done effectively.”

Some leaders emphasised that due to increased rainfall and lack of support from the Government many are desperate within the region.

The concerned residents have indicated, “We are forced to harvest young crops for our survival.” We are hungry, can you get someone to help they queried.

The residents and farmers said, “We don’t know if the Government has forgotten us or if the Agriculture representative here is not communicating with the Government but we repeat we are hungry and suffering.”

The communities depend on agriculture fishing and planting which is affecting some.

The residents and farmers said, “we need urgent assistance from the Government or the Private Sector.”

Meanwhile just last week residents of Region #9 said agriculture is dead in the region and Government support for farming goes to businesses who import goods from Brazil which disrupts the production of farmers within the region.