Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha yesterday urged farmers to prepare for the effects of El Niño, warning that the prevailing dry conditions could persist for the remainder of this year and possibly into the first quarter of 2027.
Mustapha issued the call at an El Niño Preparedness Forum hosted by the Ministry of Agriculture in collaboration with the Hydrometeorological Service at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre.
The forum brought together farmers, technical agencies, private-sector representatives, development partners and other stakeholders to discuss measures to protect agricultural production as sections of the country experience reduced rainfall and higher temperatures.
“We are here today not to create panic. We are here to prepare,” Mustapha said, according to the Department of Public Information.
Discussions focused on water management and irrigation, the timely dissemination of climate information and the promotion of climate-smart agricultural practices.
Mustapha said preparedness plans must result in practical interventions on the ground to support farmers and safeguard production.
“Our approach has to be straightforward…store water where we have it, manage it carefully, and make sure it reaches farmers when they need it,” he said.
The minister said the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority is monitoring the country’s major conservancies and irrigation systems. Areas vulnerable to water shortages are also to be identified so that difficulties can be addressed before they become severe.
He said Guyana was in a better position to respond to prolonged dry conditions because of investments in drainage and irrigation infrastructure, including canals, pumps, sluices and water-storage systems.
Mustapha also maintained that the expected conditions should not lead to reduced agricultural production. He said government agencies, regional administrations, technical officers and farmers must work together to identify and respond quickly to problems in farming communities.
As previously reported by Kiskadee Watch, the Hydrometeorological Service earlier warned that Guyana could experience as many as 80 hot-spell days this year, compared with a historical annual maximum of 30.
Regions Four, Five, Six, Eight and Ten were forecast to experience the highest frequency of hot spells, while the entire country was expected to record fewer wet days and above-normal daytime and nighttime temperatures.
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