In Guyana, more than 60% of farmers affected by drought

In her fields, Carmen hasn't seen enough rain since August. “Here they are the lemons, there is no water, they are weak because there is not even a grain in them”, deplores Carmen.

Guyana has not experienced such a drought in 60 years. The rainy season is late and water is in short supply. In the West, the soils are particularly dry. Fruits and vegetables have difficulty growing. In the markets, the stalls are starting to empty.

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“We don't plant to sell, we plant to eat, Carmen explains. But we lost many, many things. For example roots, cassava, yam, ginger.”

Since May 2023, a persistent drought has taken hold in western Guyana. The Maroni basin has had more than 16 months of deficit rainfall. The previous two years were also marked by deficit rainfall.

Now, the few drops that fall from the sky trickle down and are not even absorbed by the earth and the roots of Carmen's fruit trees. Like her, farmers are worried and fear for their production. According to the Chamber of Agriculture, 60 to 70% of farmers in Guyana are affected by this drought.

“In the few markets that I cover, I noticed that today there were almost no vegetables left after 10 or 11 a.m.,” underlines Albert Siong, president of the Chamber of Agriculture of Guyana.

In the markets, even the fruits are tired and a little dry.

Albert Siong, president of the Chamber of Agriculture of Guyana

If the drought persists, the Chamber of Agriculture wishes to put in place an aid plan. In the meantime, Carmen has no solution to revitalize her fields. “I don't see a solution, I'm waiting, what can I find? I don't know”, she laments.

On October 29, the prefecture launched the ORSEC plan. According to forecasts from Météo France Guyane, the situation could further deteriorate with the continuation of the rain deficit until the end of the year.