The Ministry of Agriculture, the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) and Scientists at the BURMA Research Centre are currently working closely with famers to ensure that the second season of paddy bug infestation does not surpass that of March this year.
The Entomologist, Ms Viviane Baharally, said that there is a presence of paddy bugs in this second crop and it seems to be multiplying rapidly.   According to Baharally, many farmers are aware of the infestations and have been seeking advice on how to deal with the infestation.
Baharally said that the GRDB is conducting numerous alert programmes to educate farmers of best practices during this season.
She advised that the most effective insecticide is Imidacloprid, which is used for the control of sucking insects, which include rice hoppers, aphids, thrips, whiteflies, termites, turf insects, soil insects and some beetles. It is most commonly used on rice, cereal, maize, potatoes, vegetables, sugar beets, fruit, cotton, hops and turf, and is especially systemic when used as a seed or soil treatment.
Baharally said that these bugs are mainly present in the fields of those farmers who are at least 50-60 days away from sowing.  She however opined that some farmers whose crops are in the flowering stage may experience some infestation as well.
However, she also advised that farmers with crops in the flowering stage should not spray their crops between the hours of eight in the morning and four in the afternoon each day because this may damage their seeds, causing them to become wind seeds. She said that at this point monitoring is critical, especially in the evenings.
Baharally noted that, in order to be paddy bug free, one would need to clear dams, clear weeds and get rid of the alternative host of the bugs.
Paddy bugs have a short life span of 17 days and, in some cases, the adult would live up to 37 days. However, it is a highly reproductive pest. This is due to the change in weather patterns, from the El Nino season to the rainy season. In this season, the paddy bugs reproduce at a high rate and they are strong fliers who can fly against the wind.  This was the last discovery made by the Entomologist in March of this year.
The Ministry of Agriculture and the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) have indicated their intention to do their best to ensure that farmers are least affected by this infestation.