Guyana’s farmers are being urged to conserve water and prepare for prolonged dry conditions as El Niño threatens to intensify pressure on irrigation systems, crops and livestock across the country.
The warning comes as the Hydrometeorological Service projects below-normal rainfall and above-normal temperatures for much of the country between September and November, with the current El Niño phase expected to persist through the remainder of 2026 and possibly into the first quarter of 2027.
Dr. Garvin Cummings, Head of the Hydrometeorological Service, said Regions Seven, Eight and Nine, along with parts of Region Six, face some of the highest drought risks as the dry season progresses.
He said approximately 70 per cent of the country could experience average temperatures of 32 degrees Celsius or higher, while warmer nights could reduce the relief normally provided by cooler temperatures.
The implications for agriculture are already being felt.
At a recent farmers’ engagement, producers raised concerns about inadequate water supplies, poor drainage and deteriorating conditions for crops and livestock.
Enterprise cattle farmer Anil Mangru described the situation as a crisis, saying farmers are struggling to find sufficient water while dry grass is affecting cattle feed.
“We deh in a bad crisis right now, people don’t have water, the grass field is dry, if you light a fire right now the whole place will burn down,” Mangru said.
The concerns have prompted government agencies to step up interventions, including the deployment of pumps, canal cleaning, excavation and other drainage and irrigation works.
The National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) is also monitoring major conservancies and irrigation systems and keeping watch for saltwater intrusion, particularly in vulnerable areas.
Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha has acknowledged that water management will be critical, urging farmers to store water when supplies are available and avoid unnecessary wastage.
“Our approach has to be straightforward: store water when we have it, manage it carefully and make sure it reaches farmers when they need it,” Mustapha said.
The Government has sought to reassure farmers that Guyana is better positioned to withstand prolonged dry conditions because of investments in canals, pumps, conservancies, drainage and irrigation infrastructure.
But officials are also making clear that infrastructure alone will not be enough.
Farmers are being encouraged to adjust planting schedules where necessary, conserve irrigation water, monitor livestock closely and prepare for potentially extended periods of heat and reduced rainfall.
For livestock producers, Mustapha has stressed the need to maintain adequate supplies of water, shade and ventilation, as well as sufficient feed and nutrition.
The water challenge could extend beyond farms. Hydromet has warned that falling river, conservancy and groundwater levels could affect communities, transportation and other sectors, particularly in the hinterland.
The warning is especially significant for Region Nine, where some communities depend heavily on rainfall during May and June to sustain water supplies through the dry season. Officials expect access to good-quality water to become increasingly difficult in some areas from late September into October.
Despite the risks, farmers are being urged not to panic.
“We are not here to create panic. We are here to prepare,” Mustapha said.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Hydrometeorological Service and NDIA are therefore pushing early preparation and water conservation as Guyana enters the more challenging phase of the dry season.
With rainfall expected to remain below normal and the heat potentially lasting into 2027, the effectiveness of those preparations could prove critical not only to farmers’ livelihoods, but also to the country’s food production and food security.
