–to discuss La Nina interventions
TO ensure that the La Nina weather conditions do not take a toll on farmers’ livelihood, Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud yesterday interacted with farmers of Abary, Mahaicony Creek and Little Biabu to discuss interventions. Accompanying the Agriculture Minister were General Manager, Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB), Jagnarine Singh; Director of the National Agricultural, Research and Extension Institute (NARI), Dr. Oudho Homenauth; Chairman of the Mahaica Mahaicony Abary-Agricultural Development Authority, Rudolph Gajraj; and Region Five Chairman, Harrinarine Baldeo.
Minister Persaud, while discussing La Nina interventions with Abary farmers, pointed out that the area is susceptible to flooding; and to ensure that crops are not lost, two excavators and one pontoon were deployed to the area to embark on emergency drainage works.
He added that the above normal rainy period, according to reports from the Hydromet Office, will continue for a few more weeks and as such, farmers should remain vigilant.
“Significant efforts will have to be placed in this regard; and as such, it is important for farmers to collaborate with the MMA. While additional work will have to be done at Blairmont, focus must also be placed on creeks to ensure free flow,” he said.
The Agriculture Minister noted that while extension officers have been visiting the area, more needs to be done since in the West Berbice area alone 6.5 inches of rainfall were recorded on Sunday.
He noted that while efforts are apace to stabilise the effects of the weather pattern which is becoming more intense, residents and farmers will also have to play their part.

Mahaicony/Mahaica Creek
Some of the issues raised during the minister’s visit to the Mahaicony / Mahaica creeks area were lifting of the inside dam at Pine Ground; rehabilitation work at Black Koker and Jagdeo canal; grading of Bara Bara dam; farm to market road and the extension of pasture lands to assist livestock farmers.
Minister Persaud said that while technical officers from the MMA and NAREI have been assisting farmers to ensure that losses are minimised, additional assistance will be given by government.
These would include excavation of canals and conservancies, grading of dams to ensure that rice is harvested on time and distribution of diesel to assist in the pumping of water off lands.
This, Minister Persaud said, is essential in saving rice, livestock and cash crops to ensure that productivity remains at a high level to supply local, regional and international markets.
During the meeting, the Agriculture Minister also came in for high praise from farmers for rehabilitation work done on embankments and excavation of major drainage outlets which was a promise fulfilled by the government.
With respect to the installation of additional drainage tubes, Minister Persaud said this will be done as soon as the rainfall eases.

EDWC update
Minister Persaud said that while the water level at the East Demerara Water Conservancy has been rising due to the above normal rainfall, he assured that it is manageable.
However, he expressed his optimism that the rainy period will see a break shortly so that work will commence to the relief channel which will serve as an efficient means of releasing water from the conservancy.