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Photo above: Minister of Natural Resources, Raphel Trotman. Photo credit: GINA.
GEORGETOWN, Guyana, Mar. 24, (CMC) – With drought conditions expected to continue until the end of May, the Guyana government, through the ministry of Agriculture, has planned a number of interventions to address the effects of the continuing adverse weather conditions.
During today’s post-Cabinet press briefing, Minister of Natural Resources, Raphel Trotman, said, the Cabinet has agreed to consider all the measures in the proposal for special emergency funding for the 2016 El Nino intervention.
“This will see intervention efforts in Region Two, taking the form of works being done in the region by the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA.) There will also be the provision of potable water to residents of the Pomeroon River.”
According to the Minister, there has been a notable infusion of salt water, as high up as 60 miles, into the Pomeroon River.
The Natural Resources Minister told reporters, that in Region Three, 10,000 rods of irrigation canals will be cleared, damaged structures repaired and water will be pumped into irrigation canals from the conservancy.
In Region Four, there is on-going assessment of the extent and cost of relief efforts to residents and to the rice and cash crop farmers, who will need water for the cultivation of the next crop.
He noted, that water will be supplied to the areas twice per week by the water authority adding that, the supply of water is expected to increase to four times per week should the situation get any worse.
In terms of irrigation waters, Trotman explained, that all the irrigation pumps are working.
He said, Minister of Agriculture, Noel Holder, in his brief to Cabinet reported that the situation in the regions was, “better than it was two-weeks ago”.
Holder also reported to cabinet, that an analysis of the situation had led to the conclusion that there will be a deficit in rainfall quantity and an increase in atmospheric temperature in the coming month and, that these conditions will place Guyana under drought warning at least up to May .
