THE exigencies resulting from the excessive rainfall over the last few days is being monitored by the Ministry of Agriculture, supported by a number of interventions, expressly in Region Two (Pomeroon/ Supenaam) which is most affected.
This was according to the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary George Jarvis, at a press conference yesterday, where it was also disclosed that levels in the Mahaica and Mahaicony Creeks are being monitored closely for fear of overtopping.
According to him, the Agriculture Ministry has been preparing for such a situation since December last year and the interventions are well coordinated.
Jarvis noted that the officers from the Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA) and National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI), in particular the extension arm, are on the ground providing support to those affected, expressly the farmers.
He added that the GLDA and NAREI, in addition to providing assistance, are also relaying any changes in the situation on the ground to the ministry – necessary feedback to facilitate the necessary support.
When asked, Jarvis noted that the estimated losses have not yet been ascertained and added that the assistance packages usually given to support farmers in times of weather extremities have not yet been decided on.
However, he maintained that all possible support on the ground is being offered to those affected and the situation is being closely monitored.
Also at the briefing was Chief Executive Officer of the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA), Lionel Wordsworth, who pointed out that all Regions Two through Six (East Berbice/ Corentyne), as well as 10 (Upper Demerara/ Berbice) have been affected by the excessive rainfalls.
According to him, the constant rainfall in these areas has exceeded the drainage systems’ capacity with a minimum of as much as three inches, and some areas have experienced flooding.
Wordsworth noted that capacities of the conservancies have also been tested and the Region Two, Boeraserie conservancies, as well as the East Demerara Water Conservancy (EDWC) –have all recorded rises.

EDWC
The NDIA CEO maintained that the EDWC remains quintessential to controlling a flood in situations like the current one where the rainfall is high above what is usually seen in February.
Statistics from the Ministry’s Hydromet office indicate that the usual average for February is between 100 and 122 millimeters (mm), but in the last month this limit has been exceeded on three occasions, where there was excessive rainfall over a 24 hour period – the obvious impact of climate change.
It was this that prompted the investment in the EDWC infrastructure.
In 2008 it was reported in various sections of the media that the magnitude and intensity of rainfall recorded in Guyana was comparable to levels experienced in 2005, but there was no disastrous outcome because of enhanced drainage works, primarily in the EDWC.
These works were commended by the World Bank in its Rapid Assessment report on Flood Related Damages to Coastal Guyana in January 2009, since it stated that significant progress has been made in improving the discharge capacity in populated areas.
Additionally, the US$3.8M World Bank Conservancy Adaptation Project will finance the development of the technical foundation for a master plan of future interventions within the EDWC and lowland drainage systems, as well as specific upgrading works and operational improvements aimed at enhancing the flood control capacity of the EDWC.
According to the NDIA, these works are expected to improve the ability of the government to manage water levels behind the EDWC during heavy rains by improving internal flows in the EDWC.

Weather Break

Yesterday’s break in the weather, according to Wordsworth, has seen the flood waters receding in many areas and allowed for interventions to be stepped up.
The NDIA CEO stated that in addition to the support at the grassroots levels in the different regions, the NDIA is stepping up efforts to maximise the release of water into the Demerara River.
Similar undertakings are being implemented in Region Two and the East Berbice Corentyne, Region Three (West Demerara/ Essequibo Islands) areas.
He added that the mobile pumps have been deployed and all fixed drainage pumps are in operation.
Wordsworth stated that the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) has also supported the ministry with a loan of irrigation pumps for drainage purposes – all for more efficient and timely response.
Wordsworth said some of the systems are taxed, as they were not designed to deal with the levels of rainfall that are being experienced.
Chief Hydromet Officer, Mrs. Bkaleka Seulall, was also present, and stressed that the La Nina phenomenon is expected to last until the end of March.
According to her, between 8:00hours on the February 21 and yesterday at 8:00hours, the country averaged over 100mm of rainfall, with 178mm in Region Two alone – the most in the country – and an average of between 70 and 100mm along the coast.