-several interventions under way in seriously affected areas
DAM maintenance and construction, and deployment of drainage pumps and excavators are some of the measures being implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture in light of La Nina phenomenon, as interventions intensify to ensure that farmers’ losses are at a minimum. President Donald Ramotar, Minister of Agriculture Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA), Chief Executive Officer Lionel Wordsworth, and Mahaica-Mahaicony-Abary/Agricultural Development Authority Chairman, Rudolph Gajraj visited several areas in Regions 4 and 5, where they interacted with farmers and residents.
During the meetings yesterday at several points in Flagstaff, Hope, Perth, Baiboo (Little and Big), Cottage and Mahaicony Branch Road, several interventions were highlighted and suggestions raised with the aim of ensuring that farmers and residents work collaboratively with government.
Since the inception of the abnormal rainy period, additional measures have been undertaken to ensure that cash crops, livestock and rice farmers’ livelihoods are not lost. This saw technical staff being deployed across the 10 administrative regions to assist in this regard.
Residents and farmers were yesterday given the assurance by President Ramotar of the Administration’s commitment to ensuring that their livelihoods are protected. This will see the continued deployment of equipment by all sub-agencies and the distribution of fuel to farmers to assist in the pumping of water off the land and the desilting of canals.
The level of water in the East Demerara Water Conservancy (EDWC) was yesterday at a threatening level and the Agriculture Ministry is calling on all relevant authorities to remain vigilant.
While there has been no reported case of breaches to the dam of the conservancy, Minister Ramsammy has reported that the height at the EDWC as of last evening was at 58.6 GD. The Maduni sluice is opened at low tide to drain water from the EDWC.
Ramsammy said that while water has receded in several areas, the situation in the Mahaica, Mahaicony and Abary areas is more acute.
“Right now our struggle is to save the rice crops and we are working with farmers to do so. Cash crops in Black Bush and the Canal have been lost, and we are working now to ensure that animals and rice are protected,” Minister Ramsammy assured.
Twelve excavators are currently deployed in the Mahaicony/Mahaica areas to assist in emergency works. Similar interventions are being undertaken throughout the country.
“Every pump and sluice is working as per normal, and every engineer is out trying to see what they can do to help,” he said.
Government has always been supportive of farmers, and over the years, significant assistance has been channelled to ensure that Guyana continues to supply its ever-growing markets regionally and internationally.
The ministry is currently sourcing additional resources to support the Water Users Association and the Local Government Authorities in its dam maintenance programme countrywide, since the Hydromet Office has predicted intense rainfall in the coming weeks.
While pumps have been functioning as normal to reduce the level of water on the land, the Agriculture Minister has expressed hope that the water would recede and the ministry would not have to open the Lama Sluice.
“Opening the Lama on top of what we have here is going to be disastrous, and so we have an already serious condition that could be made worse if the conservancy level does not drop,” Minister Ramsammy said.
General Secretary of the Rice Producers Association, Dharamkumar Seeraj was also at hand interacting with farmers.