GUYANA is currently in the midst of the El Niño period, resulting in warmer and drier weather conditions, and new initiatives are being introduced to farmers here to conserve water for food production.

Speaking at an event on Monday to commemorate World Food Day, Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha revealed that drip irrigation and water harvesting is being introduced to farmers nationwide.

“In light of the reduced rainfall and possibility of water scarcity, the Ministry of Agriculture has been proactive in dealing with the potential challenges for agriculture on our water resources. The ministry has undertaken several initiatives to promote sustainable water use and management for agriculture.”
Drip irrigation is a type of micro-irrigation that reduces water wastage by delivering water directly to the root zone of the crops. This can either be done above the soil surface or buried below the surface.

Meanwhile, water harvesting is the collection and storage of rainwater, rather than allowing it to run off.
“These initiatives aim to improve irrigation practices on water efficiency and ensure the long-term viability of the agriculture sector,” the agriculture minister explained.
Meanwhile, he noted that the Ministry has invested heavily in the infrastructure of the country’s drainage systems.
“To mention a few some examples of these initiatives include investment in irrigation infrastructure, for the development and rehabilitation of irrigation systems across the country. This includes the construction and maintenance of canals, pumps, pump stations, water reservoirs, maintenance and many more from the management of water for agricultural use.”
Already, for the year, $26 billion has been expended in upgrading the drainage and irrigation systems.
This year, World Food Day is being held under the theme, “Water is life, water is food.”

Guyana has received support from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation and the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) to introduce climate-smart practices to farmers here.

Delving further into the importance of water conservation for food production IICA’s representative to Guyana, Wilmot Garnett noted that the scarcity, improper use, and the threats of climate change on the world’s water resources can have threatening effect on food production.
And if action is not taken soon, food production can be reduced by 25 per cent by 2025.
“Agriculture must develop and implement innovative production systems that prior efficient prioritised water use,” Garnett said.
“If sustainable changes are not made in agriculture, the demand for water for agriculture will increase to 70-90 per cent by 2050, fortunately, we have some solutions,” he added.
Currently, agriculture accounts on average for 70 per cent of all freshwater withdrawals globally and an even higher share of consumptive water use.
Although Guyana has abundant fresh water, which is ideal for food production, changing weather patterns and the effects of climate change have brought to light the importance of water.
“Today more than one-third of the world’s population is still without safe water, small owner farmers, particularly women youth, indigenous people migrants and refugees are the most vulnerable,” FAO representative to Guyana Dr Gillian Smith said.

She suggested that technology be utilized to address the issue.
“We must harness the power of science innovation, data and technology to produce more with less, to make every drop count, all of us must consume and manage water more efficiently.”
The ongoing dry spell is expected to last until November, and the authorities have assured citizens that the country has sufficient water to meet current demand.
However, both the Head of State, Dr. Irfaan Ali, and the agriculture minister, Zulfikar Mustapha have called on citizens to conserve water.
The agriculture minister recently disclosed that fresh water is being conserved to assist farmers during this dry-weather period.
He stated that local authorities have stored freshwater and are monitoring water use and storage levels to guarantee that there is enough water to last throughout the dry season.
In some regions, surface water has dried up and there is a reduction in flows from springs. Some hinterland communities are more adversely affected.
The government has since implemented a system to ensure that water is being supplied to communities in Regions One, Seven and Eight.