…as global temperatures continue to rise

By Rehana Ahamad

THE period 2011-2020 has been the warmest decade recorded globally, with 2020 being the third warmest year ever recorded.

This is according to a Global Climate Report published by the National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) in the United States. The report indicated that the combined global average temperature over the land and ocean surfaces, as of November 2020, was 0.97 degrees Celsius above the 20th century average of 12.9 degree Celsius.

“The yearly temperature for South America has increased at an average rate of 0.14 degrees Celsius or 0.25 degrees Fahrenheit per decade since 1910; however, the average rate of increase is nearly double that value since 1981,” the report indicated.

As temperatures continue to rise, sea levels are likely to follow, and Guyana, which is situated below sea level, could be especially vulnerable and likely to face a series of significant threats, especially in relation to food production and sea defences. Speaking with the Guyana Chronicle on Thursday, Guyana’s Chief Hydrometeorological Officer, Dr. Garvin Cummings, confirmed the recent report, explaining that increase temperatures have been a trend over the last century and is likely to continue in the coming years.

CLIMATE-SMART AGRICULTURE

Dr. Cummings also underscored the fact that increased temperatures also threaten Guyana’s vibrant food production sector, since certain crops are unable to thrive in excessive heat.
These concerns are also shared by Dr. Oudho Homenauth, Chief Executive Officer of the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI).

“Crops require a certain temperature, and we know that increasing temperatures will have an effect on production, especially of fruits and vegetables.” Dr. Homenauth asserted. He noted, however, that Guyana has been embracing a number of innovative technologies that seek to mitigate the effects of global warming and drive sustainable food production throughout the country. These Climate-Smart initiatives include the implementation of shade-houses, which continue to be gradually and successfully adopted by farmers throughout Guyana.

“We would have started to heavily promote shaded cultivation; what we do there, is create an environment where you apply reduced heat intensity, using the greenhouse plastic that absorbs the radiation to some extent, as well as what we call the shade cloth that helps to absorb the heat, and that is more conducive to the growth of plants,” Dr. Homenauth explained.

The NAREI executive said that the initiative has seen tremendous growth over the last few years, with over 50 large-scale facilities already set up countrywide.

“I imagine we will have another 100 shaded houses in 2021,” Dr. Homenauth projected. He explained too that the use of shade houses also promotes year-round production, since many of the facilities employ elevated plant beds. “Even if it is flooding, production would not be affected,” the NAREI CEO posited.

Despite its long-term benefits, shade houses can be a little expensive to erect. To this end, the Government of Guyana, in its 2020 Emergency Budget, allocated $15.8 million for the purchase of shade house materials that can be sold to farmers at a minimal cost.

Dr. Homenauth explained that the materials are being supplied to farmers as part of a “revolving fund” which will see the government making no profits. “It is just to ensure that we always have the materials available to farmers, at a low cost,” the NAREI official said.

He noted that the initiative continues to gain momentum as more and more farmers are recognizing the effects of the harsh temperatures.

“We have seen the benefits of shaded cultivation, and this can be expanded to hydroponics farming as well,” Dr. Homenauth noted.

PREPARING FOR THE ELEMENTS

In an invited comment, Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha, said that the government remains cognisant of the effects of climate change, and has been strategically working to combat its relating challenges. As far as the food production sector is concerned, Mustapha said that, in addition to propagating Climate-Smart Agriculture, the ministry is also preparing to safeguard farmers and their produce, from the elements.

“For example, we are setting up more pumps, because these natural gravity flows now are coming less and less almost on a yearly basis, where siltation is taking over,” Mustapha noted. He said that the threats of the rising sea, the government is taking a keen interest in ensuring the effectiveness of various conservancies across the country.
“…so we can store more water to irrigate rice fields and so,” the minister asserted.

According to Minister Mustapha, under his guidance, the Ministry of Agriculture has executed a series of massive drainage and irrigation works across the country, and in almost all the agricultural areas along the coastland.

“That will be a policy to continue to rehabilitate these drainage and irrigation structures across the country.” He related too that the country’s existing drainage and irrigation infrastructure are expected to be complemented with the installation of nine additional pumps in Regions Two, Four, Five and Six.“…plus pumps to help with irrigation,” the minister added.

India’s High Commissioner to Guyana, Dr K.J. Srinivasa, had recently told media operatives that the pumps, which are being acquired through a partnership between Guyana and India, are currently being installed.

Nonetheless, Minister Mustapha said that despite the Opposition’s 2011 objections to the construction of the Northern Relief Channel at Hope/Dochfour on the East Coast of Demerara, the structure, commonly referred to as ‘Hope Canal’, has been a critical component to Guyana’s fight against high tides.

“If that canal was not there now, the entire East Coast would have been under water for days when we had the heavy rainfalls,” Minister Mustapha maintained.

He reminded that Guyana’s drainage system was only built to cater for approximately one and a half inches of water that could be drained within a 24-hour period.

“…we are now having five to 10 inches of rainfall in a 24-hour period, so imagine what would have happened if we didn’t have that Canal. The people in Mahaica Creek would have been flooded out, the entire East Coast would have flooded out,” he posited.

SEA DEFENCES

As threats of a rising sea continue to grow exponentially, the Government of Guyana, via the Ministry of Public Works, is also looking to invest heavily in the rehabilitation and construction of adequate sea defence infrastructure throughout the country. Minister within the Ministry of Public Works, Deodat Indar, had previously indicated the ministry’s intention to request monies for a series of sea defence works in its 2021 budget submission.

MANGROVES PROTECT US

In addition to sea defence infrastructure, mangroves are perhaps our first line of defence against the raging sea. These salt-water-resistant plants boast of sturdy root systems that help to form a natural barrier against violent tides and potential floods. According to Kene Moseley, head of the Mangrove Restoration and Management Department, Guyana currently has just over 33,000 hectares of mangroves along the coastland.

Over the last few years, much effort has been made to cultivate and maintain mangrove sites all along the coast. These efforts were also accompanied by intense public awareness initiatives which sought to deter persons against destroying the plants that are critical in protecting us from the ever-rising sea level.

Previously, many Guyanese, especially in rural areas, have destroyed mangrove sites as a means of obtaining ‘firewood’ for cooking and various other reasons. Moseley has indicated, however, that there has been a significant reversal of these trends.

“In terms of our public awareness, we have had positive responses from persons, and we do get support from communities in the case of persons clearing out the mangroves. Persons have become aware of the importance of mangroves as a defence mechanism, and they would inform us of any attempts to destroy the mangroves,” Moseley noted.