MINISTER of Agriculture, Mr. Robert Persaud said, Thursday, that 70 per cent higher than normal rainfall is expected soon and warned the public to take precautions.
Speaking at a press conference, in the boardroom of the Ministry, he dealt with preparations for La Nina conditions.
Persaud said the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) has put in place a number of flood prevention and water management initiatives countrywide.
He cautioned, however, that, even with the many preventative steps being taken, there could be flash flooding, given Guyana’s topography.
Persaud urged that people take a more pro-active role to minimise discomfort to residents and farmers, which would be caused in the case of flooding.
He said, starting next week, weather information will be available on all broadcast newscasts.
Chief Hydrometeorological Officer, Ms. Bhaleka Seulall, informed that the most recent statistical and forecast models predict that weather conditions are expected to be sustained and last into the first quarter of 2011.
She said Guyana can expect above normal rainfall during the rainy season, with days of heavy downpours, occasional lightning and thunder and gusty winds.

PROJECTS
NDIA Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mr.  Lionel Wordsworth, gave an update on the status of drainage projects currently being undertaken to improve and sustain the performance of the D&I systems in the declared agricultural areas of Regions Two (Pomeroon/Supenaam), Six (East Berbice/Corentyne) and Ten (Upper Demerara/Berbice) during the end of the year rains (December 2010 to January 2011).
He said the NDIA has assigned engineers to Regions Two, Three (Essequibo Islands/West Demerara), Four (Demerara/Mahaica), Six and Ten, to oversee and monitor all D&I activities.
Wordsworth said the NDIA has a fleet of 43 excavators and one dragline, which are all deployed to undertake critical drainage works countrywide.
Explaining that the drainage system has a total of 113 pumps of various capacities, he said two special 250 tonnes pontoons, which utilise four long reach excavators to dredge silted outfall channels along the Coast and some riverine areas, have also been deployed.
He added that the NDIA has established a communication network in Regions Two, Three. Four, Five, Six and Ten and the East Demerara Water Conservancy (EDWC) and the Agriculture Ministry has inaugurated a hotline service on a 24 hours basis.
Wordsworth said the Ministry is offering support to its senior technical officers/extension agents, who have already begun aggressive monitoring and conducting continuous assessments across the country to plan interventions and other actions in an effort that will continue throughout the upcoming holidays.

SUPPORT
He said, in support of crops and livestock farmers, teams of veterinary officers will be deployed across livestock regions to provide technical advice and animal care to coordinate and give support to farmers desirous of relocating animals to higher grounds and substitute feed for animals affected in the event of flooding with grass, rice bran, wheat middling, molasses and vitamin supplements.
Indicating that Crop Extension staff will be posted in vulnerable areas to provide technical and other support, Wordsworth urged farmers not to start cultivation in those places that may be flood prone and advised them to coordinate support from NDIA/Mahaica/Mahaicony/Abary.
He said, wherever  necessary, affected farmers will be provided with planting materials and other assistance to recommence cultivation once high waters recede.
Wordsworth said some major challenges faced by the NDIA  include negligence by koker attendants/operators, dumping of garbage and other implements in drainage systems, lack of pro-activeness by local government bodies, vandalism of drainage structures and equipment and encumbrances on drainage reserves.