To save crops, livestock…
MANY parts of Guyana have been experiencing 50 to 60 per cent below the long term average rainfall, due to the El Nino phenomenon which has resulted in the need to conserve valuable water resources for irrigation of agriculture crops and livestock and domestic usage, the Ministry of Agriculture has acknowledged.
It said, in document circulated at a press conference last Thursday, that the affected areas represent a major segment of the agriculture sector, including rice and other cultivations.
The documentation also contains a summary of interventions and an El Nino recovery plan, for areas along the coastline which were severely affected by drought.
It indicated that farmers, most operating at subsistence and small scale levels, derive their food security, social and economic well-being from farms and holdings in those areas and actions by the Ministry has benefited all ten Administrative Regions.
The beneficiaries comprise some 4,000 farmers and poor households, who were provided livestock supplies and planting materials while 566 acres in the backlands were cleared and ploughed.
The Ministry said, through the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA),  20,000 acres of agricultural lands were irrigated when four tubes were installed to tap water from Lima Sands in Region Two (Pomeroon/Supenaam).
In Region Three (West Demerara/Essequibo Islands), a number of irrigation canals were excavated to meet the needs of farmers and water was pumped from Bonasika Creek into Boeraserie Conservancy.
A regulator was also installed at Two Mouth, Boeraserie Conservancy and a pump was put there to make water flow from a higher level downstream, so that farmers could benefit.
Thirty-three holding ponds were excavated in Leguan, too, to provide water for cattle, the Ministry reported.

SUSTAINABILITY

It said, in Region Four (Demerara/Mahaica), water was pumped from Mahaica River into the East Demerara Water Conservancy (EDWC) to sustain the integrity of the dams and provide to the sugar estates in order to ensure sustainability of the crop.
In Region Five (Mahaica/Berbice), $15M were expended on the digging of an irrigation canal which would aid in sourcing fresh water from upstream of the Mahaica River and a four miles long canal was excavated to make water available for cattle.
For Region Six (East Berbice/Corentyne), a number of irrigation pumps were placed in key places, such as Sandaka, Manarabisi and Black Bush Polder, while two are used to recirculate and supplement for the same purpose, by pumping upstream of Corentyne River.
Works were executed, as well, in Region 10 (Upper Demerara/Berbice) and some hinterland locations. For example, in Region One (Barima/Waini), the Ministry assisted with the provision of black tanks and water pumps and transporting water to affected residents.
Planting, feeding materials and supplements were given to farmers, together with agro-chemicals also in the sub-region. They also received breeding animals and equipment (cassava mills and presses) to sustain livelihoods in the communities.
In Region Seven (Cuyuni/Mazaruni), holistic training was conducted for farmers in apiculture and a number of hives were given them. Knapsack sprayers, bumba pumps, agro-chemicals, mist blowers, ants bait and water pumps were handed out and a pasture for goats is to be developed.
The compilation said a team is expected to travel to Region Eight (Potaro/Siparuni) shortly to deliver bumba pumps, agro-chemicals, mist blowers, ants bait and an electric generator and a drip irrigation farm will be established.
In Region Nine (Upper Takutu/Upper Essequibo), significant quantities of supplies were distributed, including knap snack sprayers and agro-chemicals, bumba pumps, storage tanks and critical planting materials which are needed for the revitalisation of farmlands.
An electrical generator, cassava mills, a press and mist blowers were also delivered.