Conservancy levels drops alarmingly

Dec 22, 2009 News

– Govt. warns farmers to monitor water use

Government has warned farmers to monitor water use. The East Demerara Water Conservancy levels are dropping alarmingly in face of the El Nino weather conditions.
The National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA), in a Ministry of Agriculture statement yesterday advised that water conservation techniques must be practiced at all times.
In Region Two, the main distributory canal water level is currently three feet below the full supply level. Areas along Somerset and Berks and Affiance and Devonshire Castle will be affected by this, the release said. Some 32,476 acres of rice lands and other crop farming benefit from the canal.
In Region Three, where the Boerasirie Water Conservancy supplies approximately 25,933 acres of sugar lands; 21,380 acres of rice lands and 19,487 acres of other crops, the level has dropped to 57.00 Georgetown Datum (GD), which is 4.70 GD below the full supply level.
“This means that there will be a reduced supply of water by gravity,” NDIA said.
At Wales and Uitvlugt estates, GuySuCo has implemented a re-circulation method by the use of pumps to ensure adequate irrigation water. A temporary sluice has been put in place at West Demerara Estate.
NDIA also said that for Region Three, it is currently installing two 40 cu.sec hydro-flow irrigation pumps at the Warimia five-door sluice to pump water from the Bonasika River into the Boerasirie Water Conservancy.
The authority has also implemented re-circulation of water at Philadelphia and Ruby to serve 1800 acres of rice cultivation lands.
NDIA warned that as a result, there will be a reduced supply of irrigation water in the system to serve the high lands between Parika and Versailles.
In the Region Four area, irrigation services are provided through the East Demerara Water Conservancy (EDWC) for approximately 32,116 acres of sugar cane; 6,138 acres of rice lands; 1,176 acres hectares of vegetable lands and 4,742 acres of orchards and coconuts.”
“The Conservancy level is currently at 52.25 GD at Flagstaff which is operating below the dead storage level of 53.50 GD. NDIA has put into operation two hydro-flow irrigation pumps to pump water into the EDWC from Maduni to increase the level above 53.5 GD and to sustain the structural integrity of the dams.”
Additionally, NDIA says that it has implemented re-circulation of water by mechanical pumping at Cane Grove to serve 350 acres of rice cultivation lands.
“There will be a reduced supply of irrigation water to areas of Cane Grove to Nabaclis along the ECD and Garden of Eden to Mocha, EBD.”
In Region Five, the Abary Conservancy serves approximately 52,000 acres of rice lands; 16,000 acres of sugar lands and19,000 acres of cattle grazing lands.
However, there is still good news in that area, NDIA said. ”The Conservancy level is currently at 60.17 GD which means there are still adequate supplies of irrigation water.”
Moves are being made to provide drinking water to residents of Abary Mahaicony/Abary Block.
The area north of the Industry Canal to the Bellamy will experience slight, but manageably difficulty, for irrigation.
In Region Six, irrigation services are provided by the use of mechanical irrigation pumps at New Forrest, Port Mourant, Mibikuri, Manarbisi, and Sandaka to lift irrigation water from the Canje Creek into the irrigation system for approximately 46,994 acres of rice lands; 26,453 acres sugar lands and other crops.
According to NDIA, irrigation water is supplemented in the Canje Creek via the Torani Canal that channel flows from the Berbice River.
“The Canje Creek is now operating at an average of 54.5 GD which is 3.0 ft below its full supply level. Irrigation Services are provided in Black Bush Polder by the Mibicuri pumping station for approximately 36,000 acres of rice land and 5000 acres of cash crops. However, 18,000 acres of BBP front lands in areas from Whim to # 51 village will experience low water levels and reduced gravity flows in the irrigation system.”
NDIA also warned that there will be a reduced supply of irrigation water by gravity for approximately 3000 acres of rice lands and 2100 acres of cash crop in Crabwood Creek due to the current low water level in the GuySuCo link canal.
“It is the responsibility of farmers to ensure that the structures, and in particular, field inlets and outlets, are monitored and managed in order to avoid any wastage. Farmers are asked to desist from tampering with structures and cuttings dams as it is an offence and is in contravention of the Drainage and Irrigation Act.”

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