COUNTRYWIDE, yield of rice per hectare average at 5.9 metric tonnes and Agriculture Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy, noted that this is among the highest in history.He disclosed, in an invited comment yesterday, that harvesting of the first rice crop is approximately 67 per cent completed, with a production of 258,283 tonnes to date.
Altogether, some 238,698 acres are currently under cultivation across Guyana: 37,710 in Region 2 (Pomeroon/ Supenaam); 22,047 acres in Region 3 (Essequibo Islands/West Demerara); 8,757 in Region 4 (Demerara/ Mahaica); 107,224 acres in Region 5 (Mahaica/ Berbice); and some 62,159 acres in Region 6 (East Berbice/ Corentyne). An additional 800 acres is also cultivated in Region 9 (Upper Takutu/Upper Essequibo).
According to the Agriculture Minister, the completion of harvesting stands at 95, 92, 97, 64 and 54 per cent in Regions 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 respectively.
Of these regions, Region 4 is maintaining the highest yield at 7 metric tonnes per hectare, followed by Regions 5 and 2 with 5.9 metric tonnes per hectare. Region 6 has recorded a production of 5.7 metric tonnes per hectare, while Region 3 has recorded a production of 5.1 metric tonnes per hectare.
Details on the production for Region 9 were not available up to press time.
“With the remaining rice to be harvested, if the yield is maintained then we should surpass 350,000 tonnes of rice for this first crop and break another record in terms of yield per hectare,” Dr Ramsammy said.
Asked about markets, he disclosed that shipments to Venezuela have already commenced and by the end of the months some 30,000 tonnes of rice ought to be exported.
As per the most recent agreement, exports to the neighbouring country will include 120,000 tonnes of paddy and 74,000 tonnes of rice.
Guyana currently has export agreements with several countries in the Caribbean. Also, given the continuous success of the rice industry, efforts are being made to secure a greater foothold in Nicaragua and other Central American countries, including Belize and Panama. Markets in Africa are also being courted.
All considered, the Agriculture Minister stated that the first four months of 2015 have represented a record four months of exports.
The target for exports in 2015 is some 514,000 tonnes, which the target for rice production is 618,000 tonnes.
Last year was another record-breaking year for the rice industry. Production was recorded at 635,238 tonnes, of which 501,208 tonnes were exported. Production in the final crop of 2014 surpassed that of the first crop, which recorded just over 300,000 tonnes.

(Vanessa Narine)