Latest update February 8th, 2025 6:23 PM
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Tractors used to transport potable water to desperate Region One residents
Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, George Jervis (center) hands over three pumps to a representative of Region Seven. Looking on at right at the Agri Ministry’s officials who are part of the task force tackling problems from the El Nino conditions.
The El Nino weather conditions continue to devastate interior locations rendering drinking water a main problem for residents.
And although, the showers are scattered, they are but a drop on the parched land that has seen no rains since mid last year.
While crop losses are rising, farmers have reportedly in many cases thrown up their hands in despair.
In Moruca, regional authorities have resorted to hiring tractors to transport water to residents from miles away even as crops continue to struggle in the dry conditions.
In Region Two, Essequibo Coast, trenches and drains where people once trapped crabs, have all dried up.
While Government officials have been visiting the areas hard hit, like Kumaka, the attention has now shifted to ensuring drinking water is readily available. Residents of Moruca had spoken of walking miles for water and while Berbice has escaped from the ravages, West Demerara and the Essequibo regions are reportedly facing a critical situation.
On Tuesday, three gasoline driven water pumps were given to the residents of Region Seven, in the Upper Mazaruni and Kaikan area to help in pumping waters to black tanks to transport to residents.
According to George Jervis, Deputy Permanent Secretary, at the handing over ceremony at the Ministry of Agriculture’s compound, while the situation is critical, the government had since last year established a task force to find solutions.
A multi-sector collaboration currently involves the Agriculture Ministry, Ministry of Housing and Water, Ministry of Amerindian Affairs and the Ministry of Local Government.
Yesterday, the Ministry of Agriculture said that its National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) has expended over $300M which includes works and the provision of fuel for farmers to assist with pumping of water into their fields.
The NDIA is working collaboratively with the Guyana Rice Development Board, the Guyana Rice Producers Association and other regional authorities to ensure the management of available water resources.
Minister of Agriculture, Robert Persaud, has estimated potential losses to crops to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars.
Cassava trees dying from lack of water in Region 1.
According to the Ministry yesterday, it is significant to note, as well, the ongoing studies initiated by the Government on the possibility of introducing risk insurance that will include drought and flood components.
The World Bank is currently analyzing data collected only this month on the entire spectrum of agricultural activity including rice cultivation.
Vulnerable regions in Guyana have benefited from various forms of support, including fuel for the operation of irrigation pumps, maintaining, cleaning and excavating of irrigation canals, and providing tillers, generators, water pumps and digging of shallow wells in hinterland locations, the agriculture Minister pointed.
Further, only recently a $400M intervention was made by Government to the rice industry to assist farmers with input supplies and construction of paddy drying floors in all rice growing areas. In addition, drying floors already been commissioned in Regions Two, Three and Six and several others are expected to be completed soon in all the rice growing areas.
Another $120M has been set aside for rice farmers and an exercise is underway to determine losses suffered by farmers throughout the country. “The Ministry of Agriculture and other stakeholders will continue to stay engaged until the situation abates. In addition to emergency interventions, the focus is also on early recovery and support for those who experienced losses.
“With necessary and timely interventions around the country, including the provision of planting material and other forms of support the Ministry of Agriculture expects production in the second crop and remainder of the year to make up for any possible dip in the first quarter.”
In excess of $250M has been already spent on interventions with another $258M being earmarked by President Bharrat Jagdeo to mitigate these conditions and aid early recovery.
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