First crop surpasses target by 25,000 tonnes
Rice Producers Association (RPA) General Secretary Mr. Dharamkumar Seeraj has reported that rice production for the first crop this year has surpassed the revised target by some 25,000 tonnes.

In a recent interview with the Guyana Chronicle, Seeraj said production at the end of this crop has reached some 150,000 tonnes, way above the original target, adjusted to 125,000 tonnes following the heavy December 2008 rains that extended into February 2009.

He credited the increase to the many farmers who were flooded out but restarted cultivation, braved the harsh weather conditions, and brought out a commendable crop.

Generally, Seeraj pointed out, the production yield for the first crop was very encouraging, particularly in Region Six (East Berbice/ Corentyne), where the average yield of 4.2 tonnes of paddy per hectare increased to 4.5 tonnes.

He said apart from the jump in yield, there is also as a significant improvement in paddy quality.

The RPA General Secretary said much of the paddy from Region Six was brought to Region Five (Mahaica/ Berbice) to be milled because of the available milling capacity there.

Production in Region Five, he noted, did not increase, and the quality of paddy was lower compared to pervious years.

Seeraj explained that results in Region Five were largely influenced by weather conditions, pointing out the Mahaica/Mahaicony/Abary (MMA) Rivers pose serious challenges to drainage and irrigation.

In Region Three (Essequibo Island/ West Demerara), he said the average yield per hectare also moved up from 4.3 tonnes to 4.6 tonnes per hectare of reputable quality.

He said in Region Two (Pomeroon/ Supenaam), there were improvements of yield and quality, but poor weather earlier in the year had a negative affect on the BR 22-4 variety of rice.

Seeraj underlined too that the cultivation that survived the December/January rain had to endure additional hardship from the un-seasonal heavy downpours in April.

The April rain, he lamented, had caused tremendous problems to harvesting, as many farm to market roads were made deplorable by the rains.

Now that the first crop has come to an end and sowing has already begun for the second crop, Seeraj expressed optimism that this cultivation will lead to a bumper harvest, given indications that the weather is likely to improve dramatically.

The top RPA Official said, based on the information he has received, June, which is a rainy month, would not experience excessive rainfall; and from all predictions, Guyana probably would go into an El Nino type weather condition in August.

Rice, like sugar cane, he said, does well in long dry spells, provided there is irrigation water.

This, Seeraj contended, should not be an issue, as there was adequate storage in the conservancies during the rainy season.

The MMA Conservancy alone, he disclosed, has the capacity to supply two seasons of cultivation with out any rainfall.

However, he stressed, while the other regions should not have any problems accessing irrigation water, the situation is not the same in Region Four (Demerara/Mahaica), but efforts will be made to allay any fears in this regard.

Seeraj has advised prudent use of water resources, an improvement in irrigation schedules, and the need for farm to market roads to be in good condition.