As El Niño looms into 2027: Enough water available for agriculture but farmers must conserve – Mustapha

With the current dry conditions expected to persist into early next year, Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha, has assured that sufficient water is available to meet the sector’s needs, while urging farmers to conserve water and use it responsibly.
He made the remarks on Wednesday, during a meeting with livestock farmers from communities along the East Coast of Demerara as part of the ministry’s continued efforts to engage directly with producers, hear their concerns and identify practical interventions to support the growth and sustainability of the livestock sector.
“You know…from now until almost the first quarter of 2027 we might end up with the dry spell so we have to conserve on water. As it stands now, we have enough water for the system, we have to make it available, but we have to be very careful also because sometimes when we give you water, people like allow the water to drain out and run away…we have to conserve now on water,” Mustapha said.
He noted that the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) will work along with the Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA) on this matter.
“If we have to provide pump…we will provide the pump for y’all but all the farmers, cash crop farmers, cattle farmers, we will ensure that you get water,” the agriculture minister added.
The Guyana Hydrometeorological Service has partnered with other agencies under the agriculture minister to conduct an El Niño Awareness Campaign, targeting farmers across the country. During the engagements, farmers are informed of measures they can implement to reduce the risks associated with the season.
Meanwhile, during the engagement on Wednesday, farmers raised a number of others issues affecting their operations, including the availability and accessibility of suitable pasture lands for cattle, drainage and irrigation challenges, and the need for suitable facilities or designated areas where fishers and farmers can safely and hygienically dry fish.
Mustapha said the concerns raised will be examined immediately, with the aim of identifying areas where interventions can be made in the shortest possible time.
“We have to work together to bring solutions to the problem because we cannot do development at the expense of another industry too because Guyana is important in terms of we want to have food security in Guyana, we want to ensure that we develop the livestock sector,” he expressed.
Mustapha further noted that where concerns fall outside the direct mandate of the Ministry of Agriculture, these will be brought to the attention of the relevant Cabinet colleagues and agencies so that a coordinated response can be pursued.