Drought as Water Disaster

 

When we think of water disasters, we tend to think of cyclones, hurricanes storms and floods. Very little thought is ever given to droughts which is also classified as a disaster.

For the purpose of this article, we will focus on mitigating measures to be employed by the Agricultural sector in the event of a drought and National Irrigation Commission’s Drought Plan.

What is a drought? It is viewed as a sustained and regionally extensive occurrence of below average natural water availability, sourced from either precipitation, river runoff or groundwater. The more precise definitions for specific areas of concern that are most commonly used are:                        

• Agricultural drought is a period when soil moisture is inadequate to meet the demands for crops to initiate and sustain plant growth.
• Hydrological drought is a period of below average or normal stream-flow where rivers dry up completely and remain dry for a very long time or where there is significant depletion of water in aquifers.
• Meteorological drought is a period of well-below average or normal rainfall that spans from a few months to a few years.
• Socio-economic drought refers to the situation that occurs when physical water shortage begins to affect people.

 

All categories of drought affect Jamaica periodically. February to March and July to August are usually our driest periods. We therefore need to put plans in place to mitigate the possible effects of drought.

The NIC has formulated an Irrigation Drought Plan comprising of  short term and long term measures.

 The short term or interim measures are twofold ; in the first instance trucked water under the Rapid Response Programme is distributed to persons with modest needs for water. Secondly, a rotation system of water distribution is implemented where necessary to at least ensure that farmers are able to keep their crops alive.

With respect to the long term measures, the NIC is aiming to expand water storage in reservoirs. Currently two reservoirs in Comfort, Clarendon, Dam 2 and Dam 20 which were constructed under the Micro Dam Programme. Are in operation. Sites have been recommended Under the National Irrigation Development Plan (NIDP), for the construction of additional reservoirs.

The Commission also actively considers the development of new sources of ground water in areas where abstraction is not restricted. Harnessing ground water is a very complex process involving ; acquisition of a licence to drill, arranging funding to employ drilling services, pump testing the well to determine permissible abstraction (WRA licensing) and pumping equipment specification and cost providing energy to operate the system.

Note however that drilling a well does nor guarantee securing an adequate water supply.

 Finally, the NIC wherever possible, practices the conjunctive use of ground and surface water in its Mid-Clarendon and Yallahs Schemes, primarily to guard against excessive pumping of the aquifer as well as to save on pumping cost.

While the NIC is dedicated to a long term drought plan, the critical role of farmers in mitigating the effects of drought must be emphasized.

 Here are a list of steps to follow:

• Aim to achieve the highest possible water-use efficiency in irrigating your fields (avoid all waste).
• Schedule crop production operations to coincide as far as possible with favourable seasons.
•  Use Optimum level of fertilizers for healthy plant growth and efficient moisture utilization. This is essential for high yield crops such as sugar cane, banana, pawpaw both in normal years and dry years.
• Control weeds since weeds compete with the crop for water; by so doing you will be securing more water for the crop.
• Practice residue management or mulching to provide ground cover  which will reduce evaporation from the soil surface and inhibit weed growth to minimize competition with the crop for water and plant food.
• Plant cash crops with low water demand during the dry period like peas, lentils and beans and cassava.
• All farmers especially Livestock farmers are also encouraged to store water. They can either build their own sump or obtain a storage tank which is supplied through  RADA.

 

Let us be aware of all the possible water disasters which can exist and remember that the lack of water or no water at all can be just as devastating for everyone and more importantly that a drought is as serious a  water disaster as any.

 Submitted by: The National Irrigation Commission Limited