– as El Nino interventions continue
President Bharrat Jagdeo continued his campaign of reaching out to the grassroots in society even as the Ministry of Agriculture pursues efforts to bring relief to farmers affected by the prevailing El Nino phenomenon.
Yesterday, , the President, joined by Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud, other officials in the Ministry, and Chairman of Region Three, Julius Faerber, met a number of farmers and other residents  of the Canal No. 2 Polder, West Bank Demerara, while on an inspection of the conservancy which is at an alarmingly low level.
During the discussions, the farmers made several proposals about ways in which they could be supported during this period, while Minister Persaud informed them of the current and upcoming interventions in the area that will benefit them and their livestock.
Acknowledging the farmers’ proposals, the President reminded them of the costly nature of interventions and how unreasonable it would be to satisfy the request of every farmer or resident at one time.
After enquiring about the state of cash crops in the area, the Head of State was told that there have been no severe impacts thus far.
Since May 2009, many parts of Guyana have been experiencing 50 to 60 percent below the long-term average rainfall.
The Ministry of Agriculture’s Hydromet Service said that most international climate models indicate that the current El Nino episode will be at its peak between January and February.
It is expected that during February to early April, the current trend of reduction in rainfall in likely to continue over Guyana, with high probabilities of drier conditions.
Only Sunday the President met Essequibo farmers announcing that $258M will be set aside to support the Ministry of Agriculture’s efforts to bring relief to farmers affected by El Nino.
The money will fund planting materials for cash crops and portable water tanks to communities in desperate need.
President Jagdeo had urged the farmers to become more knowledgeable about the phenomenon, and on a previous occasion, called on them to take tough action and make sacrifices.
The Canals Polder has been the target of an Agricultural Export Diversification Programme (ADP) which, among other objectives, seeks to augment agriculture production through the rehabilitation of existing drainage and irrigation infrastructure, such as bridges, check structures, primary and secondary regulators, sluices, relief structures and fair weather roads.
In April 2008, the Government signed a US$21.9M agreement with the Inter- American Development Bank (IDB) for the five-year ADP. The objective was to create opportunities for increased income generation in the area through efficiency of agriculture production.
The government’s contribution to the project involved the execution of 60 percent of earthwork by the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA), followed by the rehabilitation of control structures and access roads. (GINA)