Rampaging bison are destroying crops and threatening livelihoods in Berridge Trace, South Oropouche, where a group of farmers say they are losing thousands of dollars in produce.
The farmers, who cultivate over 25 acres of land, are calling on Agriculture Minister Ravi Ratiram to intervene after repeated complaints to police and the Praedial Larceny Squad brought no results.
The farmers say the animals, which belong to a resident in the area, roam freely and are not tied or placed in pens. They trample, uproot and feed on crops, then return night after night to do more damage, the farmers said yesterday.
When Guardian Media visited the community yesterday, the fields showed evidence of hoof prints and damaged plants. A cornfield had been eaten down but the bison were nowhere to be found.
Farmer Malisa Harrykissoon said the animals come onto the fields at night or late evening. Saying it was tiresome to see their efforts go down the drain, Harrykissoon said: “We just want help. We want the animals to stay beyond the river and stop coming into our lands.”
She added that the bisons were also dangerous.
“Every day is a different scene. These animals ran down my 10-year-old son. We are tired,” she said.
Her father Bhopal Harrykissoon, who cultivates five acres of ochroes, hot peppers, and corn, said the five bisons entered his field on Friday night.
“They ate everything. This is not the first time. Last week, they mashed up tomatoes. We keep replanting, but we are getting nowhere,” Harrykissoon said.
Another farmer, Bhadearam Henry, who also cultivates ochroes and hot peppers, said he has been reporting the damage for years.
“The ochroes are at bearing stage. The bisons walk through and break the branches. They mash the roots and the plants die in days. I went to the station many times. The officers say they talked to the man but nothing has changed,” Henry said.
Farmer Avinash Harrykissoon, who grows lettuce, pimento, and bodi, said: “I also reported the damages to the police, but they said they can’t do anything. I don’t want trouble. I just want the animals to stop coming.”
He said he was discouraged that after working and investing so much, they had nothing to reap.
“We are not asking for money. We are asking for action. Someone needs to control the animals. We work hard. All we want is to reap what we plant.”
Guardian Media contacted Minister Ravi Ratiram for comment but there was no response up to press time last night. However, a praedial larceny official said the matter would be addressed.
—Radhica De Silva
