Latest update February 11th, 2025 2:15 PM
Latest News
- Govt. makes move to cancel CGX, Frontera Corentyne block license in 30 days
- ExxonMobil paying taxes in Bahamas but not a cent to Guyana
- Canadian company completes airstrip, roads to kick off 5.4M ounce gold project in Guyana
- Hamas threatens to postpone next hostage release, claiming Israel has broken terms of ceasefire deal
- Twelve-year-old girl missing for three weeks
Expect dry weather, less rains until March
– Hydromet warns
Local officials are predicting a continuation of the current dry El Nino weather at least for the next four months.
According to Chief Hydrometeorological Officer (ag), Bhaleka Seulal, although there will be instances of rainfall, indications are that the weather condition is expected to peak by next month.
While agriculture officials said that the crop losses over the past month were minimal, several activities including interventions mostly in the hinterland areas have been ongoing.
This was disclosed by the Ministry of Agriculture during a press conference at the Ministry on Monday, to report on the dry period and its effects on residents.
According to Seulal, since June, her section had warned of dry weather conditions. However, it was noted that there was a 40 per cent chance of below normal rainfall and that the present conditions could prevail to March 2010.
Minister of Agriculture, Robert Persaud and other officials at yesterday’s press conference.
“It is predicted that for December instead of 26 rain days as is normal, there might only be 15 rain days,” the Ministry said.
The official stressed, however, that while predictions are that the current weather pattern will continue, there will be some level of rainfall.
Minister of Agriculture, Robert Persaud, who was present along with several other officials, including representatives from the drainage and irrigation sections, noted that from reports so far, the losses from the El Nino-like conditions are minimal.
There are equipment being deployed to pump water into the East Demerara Water Conservancy (EDWC), a bit unusual since it is normal to take excess water from there, the Minister pointed out.
One area of top priority is the Lamaha Canal which the Guyana Water Inc. (GWI) utilizes to feed the Georgetown water system. Already, arrangements are in place to ensure that this canal continues to be topped up, the Minister assured.
While Government has pumped $49M directly in interventions for especially hinterland areas, an estimated $200M so far has been expended on mobilizing equipment and carrying out other works to lessen the impact of the dry conditions.
So far, almost $8M in pumps, tillers and generators, which have been donated by the Chinese government and fertilizers from the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization have seen quite a number of farmers benefitting, Persaud disclosed.
Interventions
Rice sowing in Regions Two, Three, Four, Five and Six has begun and farmers were urged to speed up land preparation as “water availability might become an issue.”
In Region Two, four Dawa pumps are working utilizing water from Capoey Lake, Lake Mainstay and the Golden Fleece Conservancy to carry water to farmers. While downstream areas are benefiting, some farmers upstream are still not getting.
In Region Three, several excavators have been re-deployed with other equipment to undertake irrigation works and a temporary sluice has been placed at the West Demerara estate.
The National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) have mobilized pumps into the EDWC from Maduni to ensure that water levels have not fallen to a level that could damage the dam.
According to the Ministry, a canal has been dug in Mahaicony to provide water to animals while water to West Berbice will be released shortly. Officials are continuing to monitor the salt content.
Meanwhile, in the Region Six area, a canal is being dug in Crab Wood Creek to facilitate irrigation water and a link canal from GuySuCo is also being used.
In the Corentyne area, officials have found the salt content to be very high, the ministry said.
Hinterland
According to the Ministry, special attention was paid to interior areas with relief food supplies and cassava sticks resistant to the dry conditions are being sourced to alleviate the situations of residents of Regions One, Seven, Eight and Nine.
An attack by acoushi ants across the hinterland region has resulted in a massive fogging exercise there. Three mechanical cassava mills are being procured for residents.
Region Seven has received pesticides and bait while residents who have access to water have been given seeds.
According to the Ministry a number of shallow wells in Region Nine are also being dug in the Para Bara, Katoonarib, Tiger Pond, Yupakari and Pranaputa Valley.
Similar Articles
THE BLUNT OF THE DAY
Sports
Features/Columnists
Are we better off today than we were before first oil?
Peeping Tom… Kaieteur News-If you had asked me ten years ago what I wanted for Guyana, I would have said a few things:... more
OAS Secretary General Election and renewed OAS Consensus
Antiguan Barbudan Ambassador to the United States, Sir Ronald Sanders By Sir Ronald Sanders Kaieteur News- The upcoming election... more
Weekend Cartoon
