RICE is taking centre stage in discussions on the Essequibo Coast at the moment in relation to snail attacks on the young paddy plants and agro-ecological approaches to pest management.

In the past, the standard method of dealing with pests attacking this important crop has been to apply chemicals. Rice is in fact one of the heaviest users of pesticides. But growing recognition is being given to the role that integrated pest management can play in rice cultivation.
A synthesis of a large body of agro-ecological research carried out on the management of rice pests, has identified the insects and weed that pose the greatest threat to the crop and examined ways of reducing harvest losses, while ensuring the maintenance of biodiversity.
Only young rice plants are susceptible to a golden apple snail attack, it feeds, cuts, and kills the seedling; its feeding damage causes missing hills resulting in decreased and uneven plant stand.
The adult golden apple snail has a muddy–brown shell. Its flesh is succulent and creamy –white to golden-pinkish or orange in colour. The distinguishing characteristic of the male from the female is their operculum (opening of the shell). The male has a convex operculum that curves out from the shell, while that of the female curves into the shell. The adults are voracious feeders and they cause the most damage to the growing rice plants.
During the dry season, they hibernate deep into the soil for as long as six months. They are active again when water is available. Golden apple snails can damage almost 100 percent of the paddy field if no means of control are applied. The damage arises chiefly during the first three weeks after sowing, while the fields are submerged. A cultural method, which is being applied, is to drain the fields shortly after sowing then the snails become less active and may burrow into the soil.
The golden apple snail is a large freshwater snail native to tropical and subtropical South America. This snail is a serious rice pest because it damages young rice seedlings. Chemical control is carried out with Fentin Acetate (60 % WP); this is the most preferred method of control of the golden apple snail.