A “weak” El Nino was present in July and is expected to strengthen in the coming months with present arid conditions forecast to prevail until the first quarter of next year.

The Ministry of Agriculture in a press statement said that it continues to support farming communities and a Task Force was recently formed to deal with irrigation issues to ensure adequate irrigation water is available. Minister of Agriculture, Robert Persaud and other senior officials of the Ministry have commenced a series of outreach visits to Region Two, Three, Five and Six as part of a countrywide assessment to determine government’s intervention, it stated.

The Ministry said that the Hydromet Department has indicated that a weak El Nino was present during July 2009, but is expected to strengthen since for the coming September-October season the probability for El Nino is estimated at 80%.  “Hence, given this outlook it is expected El Nino like effects will affect most of Guyana during August –October 2009 and may include generally below average rainfall over most of Guyana”, it said.

The statement pointed out, however, at on August 31st, it was reported that the present conditions could prevail until the first quarter of 2010. It said that the Task Force has already identified support and will examine additional interventions for farmers’ activities, particularly in rice growing regions that are being affected by El Nino conditions.

Farmers are urged to capitalize on the current weather conditions to reap and maximize land preparation activities.

The task force held several meeting and noted that water used for agricultural purposes is often high and with the present conditions, there is increased evaporation rates and diminishing soil moisture. It noted that there are implications for the availability of water in the city and therefore there is the need to conserve and use water efficiently.

The Ministry outlined a number of interventions it had undertaken and while stating that in several areas there were no major threats at this point in time, in Region Six it is estimated that 2000 acres of rice cultivation is under threat if adequate irrigation water is not available. The Regional Democratic Council is continuing its efforts, it said.

This newspaper had reported that residents in the Deep South Rupununi were feeling the effects of the weather phenomenon and the ministry said that a technical team will be dispatched to Region Nine to conduct further impact assessments as well as creating awareness among residents of the realities and their role in mounting an appropriate response. The provision of relief food supplies and sourcing of cassava sticks of a strain that can flourish under the prevailing conditions are some of the measures that will be taken, it stated.

It noted that cassava cultivation is a staple diet in hinterland communities and this is severely affected in Region Nine, and by extension, the livelihood of residents/farmers, are also at risk. The ministry said that cassava cultivation is becoming a lucrative trade, and the indigenous peoples can capitalise on this reality.

It added that the situation is one of great urgency to ensure food security in hinterland communities which are already dependent on food supplies from the coastland.