– farmers optimistic about saving crops with the Lama and Maduni sluices closed
CHAIRMAN of the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA), Mr. Walter Willis, in an invited comment, said the spring tide commenced Tuesday around noon and is expected to be as high as 3.34meters today and tomorrow. At 10:00hrs on Tuesday, the Mahaica Creek measured a level of just below 52 Georgetown Datum (GD) and Wednesday morning, at approximately 8:30hrs, there was an increase of about an inch.
The reading yesterday was nearer to 54GD around noon, a fact confirmed by several residents, who took it upon themselves to monitor the levels in the creek.
Willis explained that in addition to the spring tide, activity up river will also affect the levels of the Mahaica Creek, since water from the catchment areas finds its way to the creek.

Optimistic
Meanwhile, with the Lama and Maduni sluices closed, farmers in the Mahaica Creek area told the Guyana Chronicle that the closures, coupled with the break, will allow them to save some of their crops.

Getting the excess water off from lands under cultivation
The Guyana Chronicle understands that rice farmers continued their harvesting yesterday and cash crops farmers were salvaging what they could of their crop.
One farmer, Mr. Ramkumar Mangru, told the Guyana Chronicle that in the low-lying areas where water is still accumulated, mostly cash crops were lost.
“In the higher areas we will save what we can, using the sun when we get it,” he said.
However, Mangru said the water levels in the residential areas, as well as on the lands under cultivation, has not receded significantly, and this is understandable with the spring tide in effect.
“The water still high now…midday we check the reading and it was over 53,” the farmer said.

The excessive rainfall, a result of La Nina phenomenon, has put a strain on Guyana’s drainage systems, which are geared to deal with 1.5 inches of rainfall per day, but have been battling with some eight inches. La Nina phenomenon was estimated to conclude at the end of March.