Hinterland should brace for fires, water challenges during dry season – says Climatologist

Guyana is projected to experience a period of prolonged drought starting when the rainy season ends in July and local climatologist, Komal Dhiram, says that hinterland areas are likely to be worse-affected.

A drought is generally a deficit in rainfall quantities and those deficits usually start in small quantities and gradually get larger, Dirham explained.

In the coastal areas, he believes that farmers will be able to navigate the drier conditions because of the irrigation-type farming they engage in. Rain-fed farming is, however, practiced in the hinterland and a reduction in rainfall means less water will be available.

“…In hinterland areas where the topography is different, most of them depend on rain-fed agriculture. So in the absence of the rain, (or) the deficit of the rain, they are going to have it much more difficult,” he said.

Additionally, the climatologist explained that droughts generally lead to a reduction in surface water and some groundwater which leads to hotter temperatures.

In the hinterland, that can be a huge problem.

“…Increasing temperatures would, of course, increase the temperature of rocks and bush or grassland would get drier and it will definitely increase forest fires,” Dhiram said.

Guyana experienced La Niña conditions at least over the past two years. Because of that, the country faced wetter-than-usual conditions, resulting in above-normal rainfall during some months.

An El Niño period, which usually encompasses drier-than-normal conditions, usually follows the La Niña. As such, the hydrometeorological service of the Ministry of Agriculture is predicting that Guyana will begin experiencing El Niño conditions from July, at the end of the May/June rainy season.