The Ministry of Agriculture has advised farmers that the following water conservation techniques must be practised as part of its managed response to the dry El Niño weather conditions.
In a press release the ministry said irrigations services in Region Two are provided by the operation of the Dawa pumps, the Capoey Lake, Lake Mainstay and the Golden Fleece Conservancy for about 32, 476 acres of rice lands and other crops. The main distribution canal water level is currently 54.0GD which is 3.0 ft below the full supply of 57.0 GD. This means that there will be reduced supplies by gravity in the 2nd and 3rd depth areas along Somerset and Berks and Affiance and Devonshire Castle.
In Region Three irrigation services are provided from the Boerasirie Water Conservancy for about 25,933 acres of sugar lands, 21,380 acres of rice lands and 19,487 acres of other crops. The conservancy level is currently at 57.00 GD which is 4.70 GD below the full supply level. This means there will be a reduced supply of water by gravity. At Wales and Uitvlugt estates the Guyana Sugar Corporation has implemented a re-circulation method by the use of pumps to ensure adequate irrigation water. A temporary sluice has been put in place at the West Demerara Estate.
According to the release the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) is currently installing two 40.0 cusec hydro flow irrigation pumps at Warimia 5-door sluice to pump water from the Bonasika River into the Boerasirie Water Conservancy. The NDIA implemented re-circulation of water at Philadelphia and Ruby to serve 1800 acres of rice cultivation lands. Therefore, there will be a reduced supply of irrigation water in the irrigation system to serve the high lands between Parika and Versailles. In Region Four irrigation is provided through the East Demerara Water Conser-vancy (EDWC) for about 32, 116 acres of sugar cane land, 6,138 acres of rice lands, 1,176 acres of vegetable lands and 4,742 acres of orchards and coconut lands. The conservancy level is currently at 52.25 GD at Flagstaff which is operating below the dead storage level of 53.50 GD. The NDIA has put into operation two hydro flow irrigation pumps to pump water into the EDWC from Maduni to increase the level above 53.5 GD and to sustain the structural integrity of the dams. The NDIA implemented re-circulation of water by mechanical pumping at Cane Grove to serve 350 acres of rice cultivation lands. Therefore there will be a reduced supply of irrigation water to acres of Cane Grove to Nabaclis along the East Coast and Garden of Eden to Mocha, EBD.
In the Abary/Berbice block in Region Five services are provided by the Abary Conservancy for about 52,000 acres of rice lands, 16,000 acres of sugar lands and 30,000 plus 19,000 acres of cattle grazing lands. The conservancy level is currently 60.17 GD which means that there are still adequate supplies of irrigation water. Drinking water will be provided to Abary residents, the release said.
In the Mahaicony/Abary block, services are provided by mechanical pumping at Mora Point and the river intake sluice at Hyde Park from about 21,000 acres of rice lands and about 45,000 acres of cattle grazing lands. The saline point of the Mahaicony River has now moved upstream and as a result the Hyde Park sluice cannot be used. This means that there will be reduced supply of irrigation water in the system from Bellamy Canal to the Jugdeo Canal although the area south of MARDS should be safe.
In the Mahaica/ Mahaicony block, services are provided via the Perth Biabu Canal and the structures on the Mahaica and Mahaicony rivers for about 18,000 acres of rice lands, 65,000 acres of cattle grazing lands and 3,500 acres of cash crop lands. The area north of the Industry Canal to the Bellamy will experience slight but manageable difficulty for irrigation. The MMA will boost supplies into the Perth Biabu through an additional intake from the Mahaica River via the Manuel Canal and mechanical pumping using a mobile pump.
In Region Six, irrigation services are provided by the use of mechanical irrigation pumps at New Forest, Port Mourant, Mibicuri, Manar-abisi and Sandaka to lift irrigation water from the Canje Creek into the irrigation system for about 46,994 acres of rice lands, 26,453 acres of sugar lands and other crops.
Irrigation water is also supplemented in the Canje Creek via the Torani Canal which flows from the Berbice River. The Canje Creek is now operating at an average of 54.5 GD which is 3.0 ft below its full supply level. Irrigation services are provided in Black Bush Polder by the Mibicuri pumping station for about 36,000 acres of rice land and 5,000 acres of cash crops. However 18,000 acres of BBP front lands in areas from Whim to Number 51 Village will experience low water levels and reduced gravity flows in the irrigation system. There will be a reduced supply of irrigation water by gravity for about 3,000 acres of rice lands and 2,100 acres of cash crops in Crabwood Creek due to the current low water level in the Guysuco link canal.
The ministry advises farmers that there must be no wastage of water. It said too farmers are responsible for ensuring that the structures and in particular field inlets and outlets are monitored and managed in order to avoid wastage. Farmers are also advised to desist from tampering with structures and cutting dams as it is an offence and is in contravention of the Drainage and Irrigation Act. The ministry said for more information, farmers can contact its offices on telephone numbers 227-2204, 227-5049 and 226-6655.
