The situation became so severe that residents have to pay tanker trucks to supply them with water for various purposes, including irrigation and for their livestock. The situation became so severe that residents have to pay tanker trucks to supply them with water for various purposes, including irrigation and for their livestock.
This unfortunate drought has affected many aspects of the Island’s economy. However, its two main victims are agriculture and livestock. Stockbreeders are facing a catastrophic situation with their animals dying from lack of water and their pastures turning yellow. Several breeders point out the poor distribution of water and the fact that wells have multiplied and the water level in rivers and groundwater are falling. Especially since the heavy showers to replenish groundwater are long overdue. Breeders, on condition of anonymity, want the authorities to find solutions to this drought. Some even claim that they have lost many of their animals.
Several residents have stated that in order to have a few cubic meters of water for their everyday needs they unfortunately have to pay. Avrilo, a resident of Anse Goeland, points out that the situation is getting worse day by day. “The authorities took a desalination unit that was not operational to install it in Anse-aux-Anglais. Now I need to have a permit so that the tankers can supply us with drinking water. I applied for December 6. Normally if you have a pool, I have to pay between Rs 2,000 and Rs 2,500 per truck”.
Additionally to the lack of water, many poultry and livestock farmers complain of not having enough food in stock. “I had to do ten shops to find food for my animals. When you find a business that sells it, there is a long queue and you can wait up to two hours,” said a poultry farmer.
The Chief Commissioner Johnson Roussety visited the desalination unit of Anse-aux-Anglais, which started its operations recently. This desalination plant will be producing about 480 cubic meters of water per day. This water will then be sent to the reservoir in Crève-Coeur in the north of Rodrigues for the inhabitants of this region for their daily needs.
Source: https://lexpress.mu/article/416448/secheresse-rodrigues-lelevage-et-lagriculture-en-souffrance
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