– says an optimistic Agri. Minister
ANTICIPATED rainfall in February has already been exceeded over the last several days, with the rainfall of the first rainy day exceeding the normal rainfall in the entire month of February – an indication that the current weather pattern is a manifestation of the La Nina effects, which require all systems to be in good and functional order. Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud, speaking with reporters in his office yesterday, following an earlier briefing he has had with his Chief Hydromet Officer, said the average rainfall for February was 120 millimetres.
However, according to the minister, in one day Guyana experienced 145 millimetres, with different levels of intensity at various locations in the country.  The minister said Guyana has already surpassed the February average levels of rainfall.
Envisaging that the current weather conditions will continue into March, the minister said there is great need for vigilance and support from all stakeholders and that the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA), GuySuCo, the Mahaica-Mahaicony-Abary (MMA) Scheme, and even at the village and community levels  in the regions, through the NDCs, have to be on high alert.
Minister Persaud noted that the recent 4 – 5 inches of rainfall within a 24-hour period far exceeded Guyana’s drainage capacity, which is built for 1.5 – 2 inches of rainfall.
According to the minister, the heavy rains have slowed down harvesting in the sugar industry, because the wet conditions are impeding even the mechanical harvesters from effectively operating to capacity.
However, he  gave assurance that the prognosis for production is not dismal because the Chairman and management of GuySuCo anticipates that, despite the current disruption, once the weather improves, the industry will quickly make up for the shortfall, because the first crop has begun early this year. The target for the first crop is 133,400 tonnes.
Relative to the rice industry, the minister acknowledged that the primary issue is one of maintenance of dams in all the farming communities and he urged those relevant stakeholders – local government authorities, regional authorities and NDCs, and even the Water Users Associations to “step up their maintenance, because dam access is very critical at this point in time and the recent rains that would have slowed that programme.” 
He said the technical staff from the ministry and the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) have been engaging the local officials on this issue because “dam maintenance is primarily the responsibility of the regions and the NDCs.  He urged that the relevant parties become much more proactive on this issue.
He explained that additional resources are in the pipeline for distribution to support the various entities for purposes of dam maintenance and other related works and pointed out that Essequibo, a normal early starter, was already due to commence harvesting in the last week of February/early March.