Mahaica/Mahaicony/Abary (MMA) General Manager Mr. Aubrey Charles yesterday reported that the scheme, in collaboration with the Region Five Administration, has undertaken several interventions to address irrigation woes of that region.

The Ministry of Agriculture, less than a month ago, had established a task team, spearheaded by the MMA and including the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority, regional officials and farmers to identify areas where critical interventions are needed.

Speaking with the Guyana Chronicle, Charles pointed out that the MMA and the members of the task force have since developed a programme of action to bring much needed irrigation water to affected rice and cash crop farmers there.

He reported that work has started in the MMA block and farmers in the Mahaicony/Abary areas are receiving irrigation water for their fields.

Charles said within the Mahaicony/Abary locales, a channel has been cleared, providing irrigation water for some 30 cash crops farmers and very soon similar work will be done on another canal.

He noted that operation of the pump at Mora Point commenced early last month to increase irrigation water in the Burma distributary and other channels.

Apart from this, Charles said all breaches were sealed to prevent salt water intrusion in the Bellamy Canal and there has been a maximisation of inflow of irrigation at Hyde Park and areas south of the MARDS Scheme, while additional irrigation structures have been opened.

The General Manager disclosed that work has also started in the Mahaica/Mahaicony regions on a main sideline dam between Ormsary and La Raisonalle and was about 33 per cent complete when parts of the excavator executing the work were vandalised, bring the clearing to a halt.

Following completion of that initiative, Charles said the MMA proceeded to undertake work at the Bath/ Quaker’s Hall railway line on the East Coast Berbice to the Bellamy Canal.

He said clearing of channels in these areas will bring relief to about a dozen cash crop farmers and 100 acres of rice lands.

Charles pointed out that channels at Naarstigheid, Bath, on the West Coast Berbice have not been included in the original work programme, but these are also being cleared and will benefit some 100 cash crops farmers.

He noted that work has been completed in the Abary areas, the right and left bank of the Mahaica River and farmers have expressed satisfaction with the works undertaken.

Ironically, about seven months ago the focus of the Ministry of Agriculture was to get excessive water off the land but now this has reversed.

The El Nino type condition has not only visited Region Five, as the other regions are experiencing similar conditions.

In this regard, Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud had told a gathering of Region Five farmers all their demands will not be met because the Government has to address the needs of the other regions and has limited resources to do so.

He reminded the farmers that the situation at hand is linked to climate change which is characterised by erratic weather patterns.

In Guyana’s case, there are short intense spells of rainfall followed by long dry periods.

The Government, he said, will not underestimate the effects of the prolonged dry conditions, noting that the consequences can be equally devastating as when there is an extended rainy season.

A task team, involving farmers, the Rice Producers Association (RPA), Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB), the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) and other stakeholders, was also recently formed to address the impact of the current dry weather on the Region Six rice crop.

The Ministry of Agriculture, in a release, said support is being given to farming communities with the recent formation of a task force to deal with irrigation issues to ensure adequate irrigation water is available.

The ministry has also visited Regions Two and Three as part of a countrywide assessment to determine government’s intervention.

Meanwhile, farmers are urged to capitalise on the current weather conditions to reap and maximise land preparation activities.   

Importantly, the taskforce noted there are implications for the availability of water in the city and therefore there was the need to conserve and use water efficiently.

The Hydromet Department indicated that a weak El Nino was present during July 2009, but is expected to strengthen, since for the coming September/October season the probability for El Nino is estimated at 80%. 

Given this outlook, it is expected El Nino-like effects will affect most of Guyana during August –October 2009, and may include generally below average rainfall over most of Guyana.

However, at the last meeting on August 31st, it was reported that the present conditions could prevail until the first quarter of 2010.