In anticipation of above average rainfall during the December-January period, the Ministry of Agriculture has spent approximately $700M improving drainage and irrigation across the country, Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud has said.

Robert Persaud

And while, most of this money has been spent on improving the systems in traditional agricultural areas other non-agricultural areas will also benefit, he added.

Speaking at a press conference held yesterday morning in the boardroom of the Ministry of Agriculture,    Persaud said that over $1.7 B has been spent nationally this year improving drainage and irrigation nationally but emphasized that a lot of work was done to adequately prepare for the rainy season, which is expected to be above average.

According to the Chief Hydromet Officer, Bhaleka Seulall, based on current atmospheric and oceanic conditions and recent trends, there is expected to be an increase in the average amount of rainfall during the months of December and January.

Minister Persaud said that there is about 50-60 per cent probability that rainfall in December and January will be above average. He also said that there is a 20 per cent chance of extreme rainfall, where there can be 4-5 inches of rainfall. According to the Minister, the country’s current irrigation system can only adequately hold 1.5-2 inches of rainfall per day and consequently it would be a challenge to be equipped for the expected rainfall.

The Minister also said that $100M has been spent on improving the East Demerara Water Conservancy and said that this should be a great boost in the preparation.

Meanwhile the Minister said that 76 pumps are operable some of which fall under the purview of GuySuCo.  He also said that there are 147 sluices that are in operation and stated that 7 new sluices were currently under construction and that 11 have been rehabilitated as well.

Persaud also called for citizens to be responsible and said that they had an important role to play in ensuring that the country is adequately prepared for the rainy season. He urged members to be on the lookout for persons who would be tampering with various pieces of equipment and also to desist from dumping refuse into drains.

At the press conference, Chief Executive Officer of the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA), Lionel Wordsworth also outlined the various projects which the Agricultural Ministry had undertaken during this year. Meanwhile Chairman of the Mahaica, Mahaicony, Abary-Agricul-tural Development Authority (MMA-ADA),Rudolph Gajraj elaborated on the projects that have been concluded and those  currently  ongoing in the Mahaica,  Mahai-cony, Abary  region.