GOVERNMENT is taking the necessary steps to keep the effects of El Nino under control through a multi-sectorial El Nino Task Force which will address the challenges that may arise.This was disclosed yesterday by Agriculture Minister Noel Holder at a press conference at the Ministry’s Boardroom.

El Nino is a band of anomalously warm ocean water temperatures that periodically develop off the Pacific Coast of South America. Extreme climate change pattern oscillations fluctuate weather across the Pacific Ocean, which results in fluctuating droughts, floods, and crop yields in varying regions of the world.

“We are expecting a 95% chance that the Northern Hemisphere will experience El Nino, or dry conditions. This will continue for the remainder of 2015 and probably into the second quarter of 2016, and our farmers will be the ones most affected; and as such, we will be having a collaborative effect to address some of the challenges,” Minister Holder said.

Representatives of the sectorial departments were also present at the press conference.

The lead speaker addressing the issue, Head of the Agro-Meteorological Department, Dr. Gavin Cummings, said Guyana is in an El Nino phase and it is expected that the condition will continue until June 2016.

He said the current forecast models are suggesting that “this will actually be a very strong El Nino,” which is expected to peak from October 2015 to January 2016.

After that period, conditions should return to normalcy, Dr Cummings said, but the agency is not clear on the impact this would have on the May/June rainy season in 2016.

“We have already begun to see the impact of the weather in terms of the rainfall quantities we have been recording around the country,” he said.

Rainfall is 50% below normal, Dr Cummings said, and there has also been a significant rise in temperatures daily. “We are not, at this time, predicting no rainfall, but what we are saying is that rainfall might be 50% below normal for the secondary rainfall season in November, and goes until early February 2016.”

CONSERVING ON WATER
General Manager of the Mahaica/Mahaicony/Abary/Agricultural Development Authority (MMA/ADA), Aubrey Charles, said measures are being put in place to conserve on water.

“The Abary conservancy level this morning (Thursday) is 64.42 GD, and at that level we are comfortable going into the next rice crop. However, if there is no rain, there may be some problems in sustaining the spring crop in 2016. What we have done so far is to monitor and take action at the tail of the irrigation system in preventing wastage. Whatever actions necessary will be taken so that our farmers will be able to successfully cultivate their rice for spring crop 2016,” he explained.

Acting Head of the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA), Frederick Henry, said during the El Nino season there is no problem with drainage, only irrigation supply.
“We would not have any problems until the middle of December…we will resort to supplementing water into the conservancy,” said Henry. Thereafter, if the condition persists, action will have to be taken to pump water into the conservancies via the Canje River Basin and other canals.

RICE HARVESTING
GRDB General Manager Nizam Hassan said since rice is in its harvesting period, conditions are favourable to rice farmers. However, as situations arise for the need of water, it can definitely affect production. “We have to find ways to minimise the wastage of water. Rice itself is a stubborn crop, so it may not necessarily be overly affected, but it also depends on the situation of the supply of water.”

Head of the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI), Dr. Oudho Homenauth, said fruit production is dependent on adequate amounts of water, and farmers are being encouraged to practise efficient water management techniques, especially the sprinkler-type irrigation.

Dr. Homenauth advised that saline water should not be used on crops since salinity gets into the soil and it is very difficult to extract, and could affect crops indefinitely. He noted also that shaded cultivation reduces the amount of water needed for crops. “What farmers also need to be aware of is the changes in the pest populations, especially at this time…we have staff out there doing the necessary monitoring and advising on some of the measures that can be taken to alleviate the situation.” He also advised that no one should practise any burning of anything in the fields.

According to a Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) representative, Raymond Sangster, the company is probably the largest user of water in the agriculture sector, and over the years, the corporation has developed a policy document to manage El Nino and its effects on the industry.

“Five of our seven grinding units depend on water from the conservancies…. From experience, the Skeldon conservancy should see us through until the end of November if El Nino conditions persist. There is also the option of pumping water from the Canje using the two pumps at Sandaka,” Sangster said.

According to the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI), there will be no significant changes in the domestic supplies. However, what could put stress on the system is the use of water for cash crops in rural communities.