THE Ministry of Agriculture, after consultation with its Hydro-Meteorological Office and taking into consideration predictions from various Regional and International Forecasting and Weather Agencies, yesterday, issued an El Nino Watch.According to the Ministry, Guyana’s rainfall for the period from March, April and, so far, in May, has been below the average expected for the same long term averages.
A special El Nino Working Group has, since, been set up to monitor and plan actions to reduce any adverse impact of a possible El Nino on agriculture production.
The Ministry said the El Nino/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) diagnostic discussion, issued by Climate Prediction Center (NCEP) and the International Research Institute for Climate and Society, on May 8, there is now more than a 65 percent chance that the Northern Hemisphere will experience El Nino conditions by the June-July-August season.
Meanwhile, La Nina is above average rainfall in an area for a particular period of time and is, generally, associated with drier places and follows a period of El Nino.
The Ministry has confirmed the below normal amount of rainfall experienced along Guyana’s coast, which is reflected in the levels of water in Guyana’s various conservancies.
The water level data from the four main conservancies indicated that:
• The East Demerara Water Conservancy (EDWC)
stands at 55 Georgetown Datum (GD), over its full
supply level of 57.5 GD;
• The Mahaica/Mahaicony/Abary (MMA) stands at 60.25GD over its full supply level of 64 GD;
• The Boeraserie currently stands at 59.30GD, compared to the full supply level of 61.3GD and
• Tapakuma stands at 56.6GD over the fully supply level of 57.5GD.
Additionally, in late April, the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) warned countries that the possibility of a severe El Nino must be heeded.
Climatologists and weather forecasters predicted an El Nino for the Americas, starting in July and intensifying towards October and December. The prediction, as of this time, is that it could be a serious El Nino with severe droughts in many parts of the Americas.
Guyana has been a victim and continues to be a victim of climate change, but has taken steps to adapt.

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