RPA reports…
RICE Producers Association (RPA) General Secretary, Mr. Dharamkumar Seeraj yesterday lamented that the current heavy, unseasonal rain is causing havoc to harvesting in Regions Two (Pomeroon/Supenaam) and Three (West Demerara/ Essequibo Islands).
He said Region Three farmers, in particular, have been badly affected by the weather and it appears as though a large amount of paddy will not be reaped because the time to harvest them might pass.
Seeraj said the showers unexpected around this time has put a halt to reaping and, apart from that, affected almost all preparations made by officials of the two regions for a smooth gather this crop.
He said, while appropriate machinery can be used, their use will negatively affect the condition of fields and be very costly to farmers.
Ultimately, Seeraj said there will be more losses to add to the 17,000 acres of cultivation that were inundated during the December 2008 rain that continued through February 2009.
He disclosed that, due to the hostile weather, farmers in Regions Two and Three are likely to get between three and seven bags of paddy per acre, less than the usual yield.
Seeraj said, given the prevailing conditions, those two regions are likely to suffer production shortfalls ranging from 10 to 15 per cent this crop.
He noted that the four million bags of paddy targeted for this harvest was revised following the 17,000 acres loss to the December 2008/February 2009 rain and, judging from the current situation, the original target could be a million bags less.
Seeraj reported that the rain is also causing some problems in Region Five (Mahaica/Berbice) where farmers engaged in culling the produce from the fields suffered to a lesser extent than in Regions Two and Three.
He said Region Six (East Berbice Corentyne) is enjoying friendly weather but milling capacity remains a bothersome issue, as many farmers have been lining up to get their paddy sold.
Seeraj pointed out that the poor weather, compounded by the deplorable state of access dams to rice fields, will impact on the timely commencement of land preparation for the Autumn crop, unless it is done under wet conditions which is not recommended.
Meanwhile, he said pricing rather than market is a problem and, with the exception of Badal Rice Mill which has been offering $3,200 and $3,000 per bag for high quality paddy, the prices other millers are paying are $2,800 and below.
Chief Hydromet Officer, Ms. Bhaleka Suelall said forecast models indicate there are reasonably high probabilities of normal rainfall during this coming wet season.
She said, notwithstanding that, there are likely to be periods of high intensity rainfall.
?Preparations for short periods of heavy downpours during the season must be considered,” Suelall cautioned.
But Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud said the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) has already deployed 23 mobile pumps at strategic locations in Regions Two, Three, Four, Five and Six in anticipation of the mid-year rains.
He said those will complement the existing 78 pumps of varying capacity in the drainage system.
Persaud said NDIA has fabricated a special 250 tons pontoon to be used along with two excavators to dredge silted outfall channels along the coastland and some riverine areas.
According to him, those interventions will support the many other routine works undertaken in the various regions to withstand more rain.
