Pumps consuming huge amount of fuel, regions want more money

Dec 27, 2009 News

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Irrigation of El Nino-hit farmlands…

By Leonard Gildarie

As the effects of El Nino dry conditions continue to take its toll, officials says that hundreds of gallons of fuel are being expended daily to pump irrigation water to farms across the country.
Already, a number of regions are asking for additional monies to buy fuel as costs mount.
Several pumps have been deployed to affected areas and the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) in media notices has warned farmers to conserve as levels in several areas have dropped significantly.
In Essequibo alone, two DAWA pumps serving the Lake Mainstay and Golden Fleece area are said to be using almost 500 gallons of diesel daily. And this is the same in several Demerara and Berbice area in the various sites.

On Thursday, President Bharrat Jagdeo, during a press briefing at the Office of the President, underscored the seriousness of the situation.
“We have moved from flooding to drought-like situations…They told me that we are using close to 1000 gallons of diesel every two days to pump water and they need more money.”
Jagdeo pointed out that this was the case given that there is now the need to pump water from creeks into the canals. “They have to pump water from the creeks for irrigation purposes.”
He emphasized that the country has now moved from one extreme of losing approximately 10 per cent of Gross Domestic Product per annum over the past10 years to another extreme.
NDIA’s Chief Executive Officer, Lionel Wordsworth, disclosed the situation is indeed taking a toll on the resources of the regional authorities.
NDIA is currently working on several technical levels with the regions, Wordsworth disclosed.
And the scarcity of irrigation water for farms may continue until March 2010 and the local Met Office says that from all indications, the present conditions will prevail.
Last week, NDIA warned farmers to monitor water use as conservancy levels drop alarmingly in face of the El Nino weather conditions.
In Region 2, 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 3, where the Boerasirie Water Conservancy supply 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. About 500 gallons of diesel is used here daily for the pumps, Wordsworth revealed.
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 for Region 3, it is currently installing two 40 cu.sec hydro-flow irrigation pumps at at Warimia 5-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. These pumps are burning 100 gallons of diesel per day, Kaieteur News was told.
NDIA warned that as a result, there will be a reduced supply of irrigation water in the irrigation system to serve the high lands between Parika and Versailles.
In the Region 4 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 presently 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 5, 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 6, 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 frontlands 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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