AGRICULTURE Minister Dr. Leslie Ramsammy has indicated that, over the next two months, Guyana’s weather conditions will be dominated by the Enso neutral weather pattern, a phenomenon that favours neither dry nor wet weather.

In a press conference Tuesday, he explained that there are three weather conditions: El Nino, which is dry or hot weather; La Nina, which is above-average rainfall; and the Enso neutral pattern, and explained that there is presently a 45 percent probability that the weather would be dominated by the neutral condition; but he noted that there is still a 30 to 35 percent probability of the El Nino weather prevailing, and only a specific under-20 percent probability that La Nina weather conditions would prevail.
The minister highlighted that this is relatively good news for Guyana, because a low probability of La Nina means there would not be too much above-normal rainfall; and even though there could be days of above-normal rainfall, overall, it is not expected.
“We are likely to have normal, average amount of rainfall, because we are dominated by the neutral condition and because El Nino is still hanging around a little bit,” he stated.
He explained that there would be days of dry/hot weather and normal-to-below-normal rainfall. While he is confident those conditions can be managed, he stressed that it does not mean there would be no problem or flooding.
He is therefore urging people, and especially farmers, to follow some rules. He explained that, sometimes, when water becomes scarce, people cut dams in an effort to access water, but this causes problems when it rains.
“The problem with that is that when you cut those dams, remember the rain will also come; and that’s some of the problems we are experiencing now. During the really bone-dry condition, when irrigation water becomes a little scarce, people cut the dams; and now we have the rain, and that’s causing a problem,” Dr. Ramsammy said.
He further related that when the dry condition persisted in early November, irrigation water was brought in, so some of the canals were primed high. Therefore, when the rain came unexpectedly, it caused an overflow of water.
Moreover, he pointed out that a peculiar condition exists presently, where, in spite of the rain, some farmers still want more water.
“So some are demanding water from us and some are crying out for floods and too much water; and that is the dilemma that we face,” he said.He also emphasized that some problems sometimes arise out of selfish behaviours, as he pointed to Schoonord in Region 3 (West Demerara/Essequibo Islands), which is experiencing some flooding.
“The flooding has been caused by one selfish man who claims the canal is his, and blocked it because of his rice farms. And he blocked it and that meant the water backed up into the community, and the only way to resolve that problem now is to go and excavate out the blockage, which he claims is on his private property,” the minister stated.
The minister added that even if it is private property, it is unreasonable to expose hundreds of people to flooding. Therefore, he has instructed the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) to clear the canal.
Meanwhile, he mentioned that the weather has been relatively good for rice production, and this is ironic, since the most complaints usually come from rice farmers. However, he said they have had a more successful year this year than at any other period in Guyana’s history.