HGP Nightly News – Farmers are being urged to conserve water as Guyana prepares for El Niño conditions that could bring prolonged dry weather, saltwater intrusion and pressure on agriculture into the first quarter of 2027.
Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha said the ministry will meet key stakeholders in the coming week to finalise and launch a national response plan.
He made the disclosure while speaking on the sidelines of a meeting with farmers at Lusignan.
Mustapha said water levels had not yet reached a stage requiring alarm, but authorities were monitoring supplies and preparing for conditions to worsen.
“We are not at a concerning level. We have enough water in the system, and we are advising farmers to conserve water,” he said.
The minister added that he would meet the main stakeholders next week to roll out the ministry’s plan.
Details of the proposed measures, implementation costs and the communities receiving priority were not disclosed.
Mustapha warned that reduced rainfall and declining freshwater levels could allow salt water to enter creeks and other sources used by farmers and households.
Saltwater intrusion could affect crops, livestock and domestic water supplies, particularly in coastal agricultural communities.
The ministry is consequently preparing canals to serve as reservoirs where water can be stored for use during extended dry periods.
Mustapha also pointed to water-catchment projects completed in hinterland regions over the past two years.
Ponds and other storage facilities have been established in Regions One, Seven, Eight and Nine, he said, with communities already storing and using water from those systems.
The effectiveness of the plan will depend on rainfall, the volume of water retained in reservoirs and canals, and how carefully available supplies are managed during the dry period.
During the Lusignan meeting, farmers also raised concerns about pasture for cattle and continuing drainage and irrigation problems.
Fishers and farmers requested appropriate facilities where fish could be cleaned and dried safely and under sanitary conditions.
Mustapha addressed some complaints during the engagement and promised to refer matters falling outside his ministry’s authority to the relevant Cabinet ministers and government agencies.
The ministry is expected to release further details of its El Niño response following next week’s stakeholder meeting.
