Ministry of Agriculture, NDIA made efforts to ensure there were adequate amounts of water from the time El Nino was predicted last year

Dear Editor,

I could not help but notice the latest misleading statements of Mr Charles Sohan in his letter of Monday, February 15, 2010 titled ‘There has been poor management of water resources by the Agriculture Ministry and NDIA.’

Mr Sohan consistently without justification attacks the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) / Mahaica Mahaicony Agricultural Development Authority (MMA/ADA). It is a known fact that Mr Sohan has on a number of occasions criticized the NDIA even at a time when the drainage and irrigation system is functioning with unprecedented efficiency. It seems he is never satisfied about the work of the NDIA. Mr Sohan is aware of climate change and its effects, since he acknowledges this and should know that Guyana alone is not affected by this phenomenon. In fact, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica and Venezuela, among others, are experiencing the very same conditions whereby strain is being put on water resources.

Further, Mr Sohan’s comment that there is poor management of the country’s water resources is quite misleading. Since El Nino like conditions were predicted last year, efforts were made to ensure there were adequate amounts of water in the conservancies and interventions amounting to in excess of $250M were made by the Ministry of Agriculture’s NDIA. In fact, at the end of the May/June rainy season last year, the conservancies’ levels were replenished well above their full supply level, and a contingency plan was formulated by NDIA to conserve water. Realizing that the water levels were receding rapidly because of the lack of rainfall and precipitation at Boerasirie and EDWC in December 2009, a conscious decision was taken to pump fresh water from the Bonasika and Maduni Creeks into the reservoir. Pumping also commenced at Dawa to provide irrigation water.

With regard to Mr Sohan’s comments that the NDIA is not collecting data in a timely fashion, this is untrue since the NDIA works very closely with the Hydromet Office whereby daily weather updates are provided. In addition, the Hydromet office was able to enhance its capacity when it commissioned the Doppler radar system which would provide a more timely analysis. It is advised that Mr Sohan visit the NDIA, Hydromet, GuySuCo and MMA offices to be updated, since data is collected via these agencies which is then analyzed and which guides the operation and maintenance of the drainage and irrigation systems. Data collection is done in a timely manner and the NDIA is afforded the opportunity of making timely interventions.

Mr Sohan also makes a huge blunder when he claims that there was salt water pollution at the extraction location at Maduni. The NDIA wishes to note that there is no salinity content at the Maduni location.

Also, some $3.2M is being spent daily for the operations of 23 irrigation pumps in Regions Two, Three, Four, Five, Six and Ten. A taskforce was formed last year when these conditions continued to make necessary interventions in the vulnerable communities around the country. Mr Sohan seems to have awoken from a deep slumber when he made those statements, since the ministry’s NDIA has an ongoing aggressive programme in all vulnerable regions.

In Region Two, in excess of $35M was provided by the NDIA to mitigate those conditions by the operation of the Dawa pumps. Just last week, four irrigation tubes were installed at Lima Sands to tap water from the Lima Swamps. This project alone cost about $2M. The ministry also had consultation with farmers on a number of occasions.

In Region Three, a decision was taken to pump water from the Bonasika River to the Boerasirie Conservancy to ensure there were adequate amounts of irrigation water. Water is then being pumped to Ruby and Centreline to ensure that those farming communities have adequate water. Irrigator pumps have been installed in key vulnerable areas as well. Further, the ministry through its outreach programme has been interacting and providing support to farmers. In addition, holding ponds are being excavated at Leguan.

In Region Four, some $22M is being spent weekly to run and operate pumps providing fresh water via the Mahaica River to the East Demerara Water Conservancy (EDWC) while at the same time the conservancy is pumping water at Nancy for the shelter belt. Water is also being pumped from the conservancy to the LBI and Enmore estates. More irrigator pumps were installed and some major irrigation canals were cleaned and excavated in the region.

In Region Five, a major canal costing approximately $15M is being dug to source fresh water from the Mahaica River. NDIA has deployed four excavators for this purpose and the Mahaica/Mahaicony/Abary Agricultural Development Authority (MMA/ADA) is working around the clock to make necessary interventions as well.

In Region Six, $6M was provided by the NDIA to the region for the running of its irrigation pumps and other interventions. Earlier this year, the Water Users Association (WUA) provided funding in excess of $3M to repair a key irrigator pump at Black Bush Polder. Water is now being sourced from the Canje River at various pump stations.

The NDIA through the Conservancy Adaptation Project (CAP) will also be carrying out pre-investment studies of the EDWC which will provide key data on this facility.

In conclusion, the NDIA wishes to note that it will only pay heed to constructive technical comments from relevant stakeholders. Our primary objective is to serve our farmers and others who depend on our services.

Yours faithfully,
Omadatt Chandan
Corporate Secretary
NDIA