Rice Producers Association (RPA) General Secretary, Mr. Dharamkumar Seeraj, yesterday urged Regions Two (Pomeroon/Supenaam) and Three (Essequibo Islands/West Demerara) farmers who are tampering with drainage and irrigation (D&I) structures to obtain irrigate waters for their crops to cease doing so.

Seeraj told the Guyana Chronicle that while some farmers in these regions are receiving water for their crops by pumping from nearby canals, others have resorted to interfering with D&I structure to obtain water.

The latter situation, he said, is very evident in the Farm/Ruby area at Parika, Region Three.

Seeraj pointed out that the Ministry of Agriculture has set up separate task teams in these two regions to look into the prevailing El Nino conditions affecting farmers and to make critical interventions where necessary.

But he pointed out that the tampering of D&I structures by some farmers who “want water as though there is a rainy season” is thwarting the regions programme of meeting the needs of all farmers.

He said if these delinquent farmers allow their region’s programme designed to address the current dry period to work, some farmers will not have to spend money pumping water to their fields.

The Ministry of Agriculture, in an effort to ensure farmers receive irrigation water for their crops, has embarked on several interventions in the various regions to bring relief to farming communities.

The ministry, in keeping with its thrust of embarking on sound, transparent and effective support to the farming community, has appointed a task force to address the irrigation issues posed by the dry conditions.

According to a release, the task force consists of the Ministry of Agriculture, the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA), the Hydromet Department, the Ministry of Local Government, the River and Sea Defence Department, the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB), the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), representative of East Demerara Water Conservancy (EDWC), Boerasirie Conservancy and the Mahaica Mahaicony Abary / Agricultural Development Authority (MMA/ADA).

The task force has already identified areas that need urgent support and will examine additional interventions for farmers’ activities, particularly in rice growing regions that are being affected by El Nino.

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

The Hydromet Department has 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 effects will affect most of Guyana during August –October 2009, and may include generally below average rainfall over most of Guyana.

According to reports, the conditions could prevail until the first quarter of 2010.

Agriculture Minister, Robert Persaud and other senior officials of his ministry have commenced a series of outreach visits to Region Two, Three, Five and Six as part of a countrywide assessment to determine government’s intervention.

Following are some the interventions made to date to address the situation:

Region Two

Interventions:
*operation of the four Dawa Pumps commenced on August 11, 2009, with 12 hour shifts, and was intensified on August 18, 2009 to 18 shifts as more irrigation was requested by farmers;

*desilting of critical irrigation canals by manual and mechanical cleaning;

*monitoring the opening of sluice/kokers to retain water at a safe level for farmers use;

*utilisation of water from Capoey Lake, Lake Mainstay and the Golden Fleece Conservancy to ensure adequate irrigation water to farmers based upon a needs basis; and

*a meeting held with the Joint Services to ensure critical structures are not tampered with. 

Impact:
No major impacts anticipated. However, some amount of pumping is required in high farm areas that cannot be irrigated by gravity flow.

Region Three
Interventions:
*at Wales and Uitvlugt, GuySuCo has implemented a re-circulation method by the use of pumps to ensure adequate irrigation water;

*to conserve and prevent wastage, 3 excavators have been deployed to La Jalousie, Zeelugt and Vreed-en-Hoop to clear irrigation canals and to build embankments to ensure no overtopping;

*construction of stop-off at Farm – irrigation box to stop wastage of water to increase the level of irrigation to farmers;

*re-deployment of excavators and other equipment to undertake irrigation work;

*NDIA excavator seal leakage of irrigation water at Bonasika Conservancy; and

*maintenance and cleaning of 6000 rods of irrigation canal within the region;

*adjustments have been made to the standard irrigation schedule to ensure water is made available to farmers; and

*some areas of Leguan and Wakenaam on the eastern side of the islands will be affected due to the increase salinity of the river water. NDIA & RPA is currently assessing the situation.

Region Four
Interventions:
*GuySuCo re-circulated water to meet irrigation needs of the estate and farmers;

*water is being conserved by the management of the East Demerara Water Conservancy;

* and works are ongoing to clear and maintain irrigation canals and structures

Impact:
No major threat reported so far, and NDIA is working with farmers to meet their irrigation needs.  

Region Six
Intervention:  
*deployment of hydro-flow pumps  at Crabwood Creek, Eversham, Number 43 and Adventure to recycle water in the irrigation system;

*engineers and other technical officers are conducting an assessment to ensure all critical irrigation canal are clear;

*re-deployment of excavators and other equipment to undertake irrigation work;

*increased water release period to boost irrigation supply;

*installation of pump at Hogstye /Lancaster; and

*deployment of excavator to clean canals at Number 70-71 Villages

Impact:
It is estimated that 2000 acres of rice cultivation is under threat if adequate irrigation water is not available. The RDC is continuing its efforts.

Interventions:
Hinterland Communities (Region One, Seven, Eight & Nine) 

* formation of a committee to discuss and implement measures to ensure relief and appropriate adaptation. The Committee includes the Ministries of Agriculture and Amerindian Affairs in collaboration with the Beacon Foundation and the North Rupununi District Development Board;

* a technical team will be dispatched to Region 9 to conduct further impact assessment as well as create awareness among residents of the realities and their role in mounting an appropriate response; and

*the provision of relief food supplies and sourcing of cassava sticks of a strain that can flourish under the prevailing conditions.

Impact:
*cassava cultivation is a staple diet in hinterland communities and is severely affected in Region Nine, and by extension, the livelihood of residents/farmers;

*cassava cultivation is becoming a lucrative trade, and the indigenous peoples can capitalise on this reality; and

*the situation is one of great urgency to ensure food security in hinterland communities which is already dependent on food supplies from the coastland.