‘Agri’ Minister tells Blairmont, Ithaca farmers…
-arid weather conditions to last until March
MINISTER of Agriculture, Robert Persaud, on Friday met with members of the West Berbice farming communities of Blairmont and Ithaca to discuss their general concerns, with specific attention being paid to the impact of the El Nino weather phenomenon that has been affecting cultivation since October 2009.

In the presence of Ministry staff and a large gathering of area farmers, and supported by Regional Chairman, Harrinarine Baldeo, representative of the Mahaica-Mahaicony-Abary Project (MMA), Aubrey Charles and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA), Lionel Wordsworth, Minister Persaud reiterated Government’s commitment to support farmers through the climate related crisis.

Noting the major efforts that Government has made and will continue to implement in the best interest of farming communities nationwide, Minister Persaud recognized that the El Nino weather phenomenon has resulted in water shortage, a reality that is affecting the entire country and expected to last until the end of March, with February and March generally being dry months.

He emphasized that the Administration is taking the steps necessary to bring relief, with excavators working across the country and 21 mobile pumps fully deployed, to ensure that water is distributed into all conservancies and irrigation canals. The Guyana Sugar Company (GuySuCo) is also assisting in this regard.

The Minister did caution that farmers should recognise that in spite of efforts, and work ongoing with crop, cattle and rice farmers, and GuySuCo, the Ministry will continue to make interventions where needed but the absence of rainfall will present handicaps to the ultimate result.

He encouraged all present to understand that addressing the current situation is a national fight, to sustain the country and farming, and the Ministry is committed to ensuring that technical staff are traversing coastal and hinterland locations to address the situation, but communities must also cooperate and give support.

To this end, farmers must work together and share resources where available, since the impact of the phenomenon is different from the last time that Guyana faced this severe dry weather condition one decade ago, because more acreage is under cultivation, requiring more intense management. GuySuCo’s engineers will assist in the situation as much as possible.

The Ministry is also moving to enhance and expand extension services, with the rotation of all regional coordinators and extension staff, encouraging pro-activeness.

Referring to the move as a radical remake of the system, Minister Persaud posited that this would serve to supply the needs of more farmers and make use of the expertise of more Guyanese agriculture students returning from Cuba, dismantling the existing system and establishing a new one that will provide support to the Agriculture Diversification Programme that focuses on cash crops, livestock and aquaculture.

He also expressed assurance that the National Budget will support the provision of services and expansion in all sectors.

In relation to sugar, emphasis was placed on the importance of production to ensure viability of the industry, especially in the context of the recent European Union price cut.

Charles, of the MMA indicated that the area is faced with a specific challenge, in the form of irrigating farming activities on lands that depend on rivers for irrigation from the Abary, Mahaicony and Berbice rivers, which are currently affected by spring tide and causing a high salt content in water in canals and the savannah for grazing cattle.

He encouraged the maximization and recycling of fresh water, wherever possible, in all areas. The noted that coming out of a previous meeting that the Minister had with the community there has been the construction of a heavy-duty bridge in the area and currently excavators are working to source water from the Evans canal, behind GuySuCo that will facilitate the flow of water over a three to four-mile stretch. He noted that this will benefit cattle and rice farmers.

Works are also continuing with the cleaning of drains and ensuring functionality of all sluices, especially in residential areas. Preparations for April-May rains will come after this dry season has ended.

Wordsworth indicated that the NDIA is undertaking a series of activities and interventions, and in relation to Region 5, work is being done to tap fresh water from further up-river. The Authority is working with the MMA to monitor ongoing work in the community. Further, many of the structures that are being erected to improve drainage have a dual function in the wet and dry season.
The Ministry is committed to use resources as much as possible to bring relief.
One concerned farmer, Mahesh Persaud, requested the support of the Minister in assisting the Blairmont Cash Crop Farmers with a situation of pest infestation that is affecting the cultivation of cabbages on communal land that was acquired and is currently being developed.

He also requested the presence of extension officers, pesticides and motor blower, to clean and spray the area and help all farmers to work along with the group, giving advice and pesticides so that they can improve on production. (GINA)