Manage water carefully – Agri Minister as El Niño conditions intensify

As the effects of El Niño are expected to affect Guyana, farmers are set to receive direct assistance from the Government to help them cultivate crops and manage the anticipated conditions. Guyana is already experiencing strengthening El Niño conditions, which began intensifying around August 2026 and are forecast to persist through the remainder of the year and potentially into the first quarter of 2027.

Foreseeing the potential effects of the phenomenon, if not addressed early, Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha has urged farmers and other stakeholders to take early and practical steps to prepare for the potential impacts of El Niño conditions. Mustapha made the call while addressing farmers and stakeholders at the El Niño Preparedness Forum, held at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre (ACCC), Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown on Monday.

The forum brought together farmers and other stakeholders to discuss preparedness and response measures while addressing other concerns as Guyana remains on alert for the potential impacts of El Niño conditions. The Guyana Hydrometeorological Service recently warned of an unprecedented surge in extreme heat, with up to 80 hot-spell days expected through 2026—nearly triple the historical average. Heat intensity typically peaks between mid-August and October.

The El Niño phenomenon could have far-reaching implications for Guyana, affecting water availability, agricultural production, food prices and farmers’ incomes, while potentially having wider implications for global food security. However, Minister Mustapha stressed the need to approach the situation from a practical perspective rather than allowing the terminology surrounding El Niño to create fear about what lies ahead.

According to Mustapha, early preparedness is key to mitigating the potential effects of El Niño, based on advice provided by the Hydrometeorological Service. “It is better that we start prepared early, because we were told by the Hydromet office that this phenomenon, this condition that we are experiencing, is expected to persist throughout the remainder of 2026, with a strong possibility of continuing into the first quarter of 2027. But we also have to recognise that today Guyana is better prepared.

Over the years, we have seen Government invest heavily in drainage and irrigation, conservancies, pumps, canals, farm-to-market roads, reservoirs and agricultural services.”

Water management plans

Plans are already underway to strengthen water-management infrastructure in Regions Five and Six, with the Government currently constructing two high-level canals in the areas. Mustapha explained that the canals are being constructed primarily to improve drainage, but will also serve as reservoirs for farmers requiring water for irrigation.

“As I am speaking now, we have embarked in two areas, Regions Five and Six. We are now doing two high-level canals there to prepare those areas, firstly for drainage, but those canals also will act as reservoirs for farmers whenever they need irrigation. But you will agree with me also that infrastructure alone is not enough. We have to make sure that infrastructure is properly maintained, the pumps are operational, water is managed carefully, and farmers know what assistance is available to them.” He said water management would be an immediate concern for the agriculture sector during the period, stressing the need to store available water and manage it carefully. “For agriculture, now, water is an immediate concern. Our approach has to be straightforward: store water where we have it and manage it carefully.”

Technological plans & risk management

The Government is also turning to technology and risk management as part of its efforts to support farmers and strengthen the agriculture sector’s preparedness. Mustapha said the Agriculture Ministry has been working with its technical officers, particularly extension officers, while revamping that section of the Ministry to improve the support provided to farmers. He highlighted the development of a farmers’ app, which he encouraged farmers to use, noting that it provides a wide range of agricultural information.

According to the Minister, the app can assist farmers in determining when to plant, identifying areas with available irrigation water, and diagnosing pests and diseases. Farmers can also use the application to access information on how to treat identified pests and diseases directly from their smartphones. Mustapha urged farmers to use technology to their advantage, stressing the importance of ensuring that information from the Hydrometeorological Service reaches farmers in a form they can understand and apply. He said weather forecasts are only useful when they lead to informed decisions, noting that farmers may sometimes hear forecasts without fully understanding what they mean for their operations. The Minister said authorities must therefore communicate weather information in a way that speaks directly to farmers, explaining what they should expect and what actions they should take.

While acknowledging that forecasts may not always be 100 per cent accurate, he stressed the need for timely and clear communication so farmers can make the necessary preparations. According to Mustapha, the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) has also begun advising farmers on irrigation and drainage, crop duration, planting schedules and water management.

Livestock & adequate water

He said the Government is also promoting practical climate-smart measures and will work closely with farmers involved in other crops to establish systems to help them manage during the period and ensure adequate water supplies for their crops.

Mustapha stressed that the current conditions should not be used as a reason to reduce production, noting that the Government has been putting systems in place to maximise production across the agriculture sector. He also highlighted the importance of the livestock industry, urging farmers not to overlook the needs of animals during periods of high temperatures. The Minister said livestock require adequate water, shade and ventilation during periods of extreme heat, while farmers must also pay close attention to feed and nutrition and ensure that sufficient supplies are available.

Guyana experienced transitions related to El Niño and shifting weather patterns through late 2025 and into 2026, moving from early cautious outlooks of above-normal wet conditions towards hotter, drier conditions and drought alerts by mid-2026.

As of August 15, this publication reported that current El Niño conditions, coupled with a growing customer base, have driven up electricity demand across Guyana, prompting the Government to implement a series of measures aimed at enhancing power supply, conserving electricity and stabilising the ageing national grid system.

One of those interventions involves removing large consumers across the country from the national grid during peak hours, when demand is high. Public Utilities and Aviation Minister Deodat Indar explained that while these large customers have self-generating capacity, which is costly due to soaring fuel prices, they remain connected to the national grid to benefit from subsidised electricity rates.