RICE farmers’ crops are affected by the El Nino phenomenon in Region 2 due to water shortage. The assessment of the affected acreage is not yet known, farmers who have access to irrigation water are being advice not to waste it so other farmers in the higher lands can access it.

All of the rice growing regions are affected by the long dry season-the effect of El Niño. The average daily discharge of rain is not expected to increase, resulting in adequate water for agriculture and mining. The El Nino weather phenomenon has taken its toll on Guyana’s rice industry; some amount of acreage would be lost because of the lack of irrigation water and the continued dry weather.

Some assistance will have to be given to farmers. It is advisable that farmers, who anticipate pumping water into his fields, should have the water tested by an extension officer. Testing should be done on the spot, using a small battery operated meter.

If the meter reads 1, 000 and above the water should not be used. The rice plant is particularly susceptible to salt at the early growth stage (about one month old) and at the flowering and grain filling stage. If the level of salt is high at the flowering and grain filling stage, yield will be lower, unfilled grains will be higher, and chalkiness will increase.

Many productive assets are either not being used at all or are producing below capacity. For example, Dawa Pumping Station and many drainage and irrigation systems malfunction and operate inefficiently because of poor management, inadequate maintenance or failure to correct some minor faults.

We need to identify and evaluate the drainage and irrigation systems which we have. Are they adequate for the purpose for which they were set up? Can they be improved? How can they be made to contribute maximally to the development effort of the farmers? When we have ascertain the facts, when we have identified and assessed the economic potential of our Region, when we have given thought to ways and means of making the fullest use of our potential, then we would have prepared our Region for the task of liberating our farmers.
MOHAMED KHAN
Former RPA Extension Officer