–support  mobilized and focus on a short recovery period, Persaud says
REGION Nine’s flood conditions are expected to continue for another seven days according to the Ministry of Agriculture’s Hydromet office. And portfolio Minister Robert Persaud maintains that the support for the region has been mobilized and the focus is on making the recovery period a short one.
At a press briefing yesterday, Persaud explained that the Ministry of Agriculture is working together with other agencies to respond to the situation in Region Nine (Upper Essequibo/ Upper Takutu).
The Agriculture Minister stressed that resources are being moved to the region to advance the necessary interventions.

Focused Support
He noted that from his ministry’s end, the major interventions are aimed at giving emergency relief by making food available, a task made simpler with the investment in the Moco Moco rice and beans project, and ensuring that food production is not largely affected.
Persaud stated that the assessments by Agriculture Ministry teams are still ongoing, but disclosed that preliminary reports confirm that some farms have been completely lost, while others suffered varying levels of damage.
He pointed out that President Bharrat Jagdeo has instructed that resources be directed to saving crops and supporting the resumption of production.
“We have teams in the region and additional personnel are headed there to do assessment and give technical support,” Persaud said.
He added that livestock has also been affected and farmers have had to move their animals to higher ground, assisted by veterinary and other livestock experts.
When asked whether the situation in Region Nine will be declared a State of Emergency, Persaud noted that this depends of a number of factors, but declined to comment further, saying that it is a decision to be made by the Office of the President.
“It is an all-out effort and the Ministry of Agriculture will continue to give support,” he said, “The aim is to bring relief to the communities and, once the water recedes, give support for them to return to production.”

Worst Rains Since 1980
Also present for the press briefing was Chief Hydromet Officer (ag), Garvin Cummings, who said that the rains in the region are the worst since 1980.
He stated that this is due to the movement of the (Inter-tropical Convergence Zone) ITCZ.
Guyana is currently in the primary rainfall season and weather activities are expected to be significantly affected by the ITCZ.
According to Cummings, as the ITCZ continues to move from south toward the Atlantic Ocean, it is expected that rainfall activity will intensify.
He explained that the heavy rainfall in the southern part of Lethem is causing the flooding problems, since the rivers and other waterways are overflowing.
The Ministry’s Hydromet office predicts that throughout the month of June, normal to above normal rainfall is expected throughout all of Guyana.
The Ministry’s hotline numbers are:  223-7291, 227-5049, or text messaging at 691-0000 and Website:  www. <http://agriculture.gov.gy/> agriculture.gov.gy