Measures are being put in place to ensure adequate water storage and supply as Guyana moves through an extreme El Niño period, Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha said.
Mustapha gave the assurance during a meeting with representatives of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) on Monday, where developments in the agriculture sector and measures to address challenges facing farmers were discussed.
He said Guyana is entering one of the most extreme El Niño phases in the country’s history, with a 97 per cent chance of persistent drought-like conditions expected across the country.
Mustapha said the country’s established water conservancies are currently at full capacity, while additional systems are being implemented to further strengthen water availability. The minister also highlighted measures undertaken ahead of the dry season, including the provision of additional water storage tanks to farming communities in hinterland areas and the construction of reservoirs.
He explained that dual-purpose structures established during the rainy period as part of the Ministry’s mitigation efforts have also been activated and are now complementing existing systems to help maintain water supplies for farmers and other stakeholders.
Mustapha said the measures are aimed at reducing the impact of the prolonged dry conditions on farmers and ensuring that agricultural production can be sustained throughout the El Niño period.
