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AGRICULTURE Minister, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy during an interview with the Guyana Chronicle last Wednesday advised that the current change in weather patterns indicate a weakening of the El Nino or dry weather conditions which is allowing other weather conditions to enter. “Where we are now is a transition period where El Nino that dominated our weather is weakening. When it weakens, it allows others to come in and what is coming in is the Enso neutral condition,” he stated.
The minister explained that there are three weather conditions: El Nino which is dry or hot weather, La Nina which is above average rainfall and the Enso neutral pattern which doesn’t favour either dry or wet weather.
He related that during Enso neutral conditions there could be periods of intense dryness and heat and periods of moderate to heavy rainfall.
In Guyana’s case, however, Ramsammy pointed out that whenever there is the enzo neutral condition, there tends to be between normal amounts to jus below normal amounts of rainfall. According to him, this is the preferred kind of weather.
He noted that the weather forecast for December-January is showing that the conditions that exist in October-November are changing.
He related that it appears that the Enso neutral condition is beginning to take a stronger hold and therefore, in the second part of December and in the month of January one may see the dry/hot weather being replaced by more frequent rainfall.
However, he stressed that because it is the Enso neutral pattern, the rainfall would not be as intense and if it is intense, it would not be prolonged intenseness.
“That’s why you’re seeing some level of rain though El Nino has not been pushed aside as yet. So it’s possible that you could get couple days of rain and then go back to the dry weather,” the minister added.
While he declared that there will be more days of rainfall, he emphasized that the conditions do not indicate, at least for December, that La Nina will enter the picture in a strong way.
Nevertheless, he highlighted that the increased rainfall would bring relief to the conservancy which had recently reached a critically low point.
However, the minister related that continuous rainfall will have severe impact on the sugar industry and may also impact rice farmers depending on what stage in the process they are currently in.
“It might have a good impact on rice in preparation of the land and so on. So it might be a good thing for the rice farmers except for those who are the late ones and are cutting their rice now,” he explained.
However, he said say if the rainy season is prolonged with heavier rainfall in January, the young rice plants could be affected.
He further noted that if the rice plants are more six weeks old, they can, to some extent, withstand some the rains, but if they are just a few days or weeks old, heavy rainfall could cause damages.
As for cash crop farmers, Ramsammy advised that while they always need water, heavy rainfall could cause damages to their crops.
For this reason, he indicated that he has been intensifying the efforts to promote shade farming, which will protect plants from heavy downpours. He added that this programme was introduced by the ministry many years ago, but he has been trying to promote it in a more intensified way.
The minister explained that there are three weather conditions: El Nino which is dry or hot weather, La Nina which is above average rainfall and the Enso neutral pattern which doesn’t favour either dry or wet weather.
He related that during Enso neutral conditions there could be periods of intense dryness and heat and periods of moderate to heavy rainfall.
In Guyana’s case, however, Ramsammy pointed out that whenever there is the enzo neutral condition, there tends to be between normal amounts to jus below normal amounts of rainfall. According to him, this is the preferred kind of weather.
He noted that the weather forecast for December-January is showing that the conditions that exist in October-November are changing.
He related that it appears that the Enso neutral condition is beginning to take a stronger hold and therefore, in the second part of December and in the month of January one may see the dry/hot weather being replaced by more frequent rainfall.
However, he stressed that because it is the Enso neutral pattern, the rainfall would not be as intense and if it is intense, it would not be prolonged intenseness.
“That’s why you’re seeing some level of rain though El Nino has not been pushed aside as yet. So it’s possible that you could get couple days of rain and then go back to the dry weather,” the minister added.
While he declared that there will be more days of rainfall, he emphasized that the conditions do not indicate, at least for December, that La Nina will enter the picture in a strong way.
Nevertheless, he highlighted that the increased rainfall would bring relief to the conservancy which had recently reached a critically low point.
However, the minister related that continuous rainfall will have severe impact on the sugar industry and may also impact rice farmers depending on what stage in the process they are currently in.
“It might have a good impact on rice in preparation of the land and so on. So it might be a good thing for the rice farmers except for those who are the late ones and are cutting their rice now,” he explained.
However, he said say if the rainy season is prolonged with heavier rainfall in January, the young rice plants could be affected.
He further noted that if the rice plants are more six weeks old, they can, to some extent, withstand some the rains, but if they are just a few days or weeks old, heavy rainfall could cause damages.
As for cash crop farmers, Ramsammy advised that while they always need water, heavy rainfall could cause damages to their crops.
For this reason, he indicated that he has been intensifying the efforts to promote shade farming, which will protect plants from heavy downpours. He added that this programme was introduced by the ministry many years ago, but he has been trying to promote it in a more intensified way.
