VICE-CHAIRMAN of Region 2 (Pomeroon/Supenaam), Mr. Vishnu Samaroo has reported that the rice crop on the Essequibo Coast is growing well and a bountiful harvest is expected.QUOTE: Rice farmers on the Essequibo Coast have increased the acreage under their cultivation, from 32,500 acres to 37,120 acres, because of Government’s massive investment, in terms of making the D&I system more efficient and providing farmers with technical help and training through the GRDB and the RPA.

He said the crop is at various stages of bearing and production is anticipated to surpass the set target of one million bags of paddy.

According to him, 37,120 acres were cultivated and the plants are blooming under the current weather conditions.

The Drainage and Irrigation (D&I) Department of the Regional Administration is also supplying water to the fields in a timely manner through its network, and harvesting of the golden grains is targeted to begin at the end of February.

Rice farmers on the Coast have increased the acreage under their cultivation, from 32,500 acres to 37,120 acres, because of Government’s massive investment, in terms of making the D&I system more efficient and providing farmers with technical help and training through the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) and the Rice Producers Association (RPA).

The Government spends hundreds of millions of dollars each year, through the regional administration’s capital programme, to construct concrete culverts, regulators, bridges and revetments to enhance the D&I network in the rice-growing areas, so farmers can produce more.

Government also spends millions of dollars more every year to grade and level access dams to facilitate farmers transporting their paddy quickly to rice factories after harvest.
Millions are spent yearly, too, to maintain D&I trenches and canals across the Coast, so that rice fields can be irrigated and drained efficiently.
By Rajendra Prabhulall