PUBLIC awareness of the proper control of the paddy bug pest has intensified and rice farmers in Region Five (Mahaica/ Berbice) benefitted from an outreach on Sunday last by a team that included an extension officer, a scientist from the Burma Rice Research Station (BRSS) and other key technical persons.
“What we are trying to do is reach farmers in their communities to offer what support we can…there is an upsurge with the infestation,” said the BRSS Chief Scientist and Plant Breeder, Dr Mahendra Persaud.
The paddy bug or ‘stink bug’ is the most common pest in the rice sector. The contents of rice grains during the milky stage are sucked out resulting in empty glumes or wind paddy resulting in reduced yields.
Dr. Persaud said the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) is taking a proactive stance to support farmers who are dealing with paddy bug infestation.“We are trying our best to control the paddy bug population,” he told the Guyana Chronicle.
He noted that there is not a single approach to keep the crops free from bugs and that the recommended approach is the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) which is the use of suitable techniques in a compatible manner for the control of the pests.
Persaud said it is advisable that neighbouring farms plant at the same time and dams and canals should be clean. According to him too, monitoring is key and rice fields should be checked 65 days after sowing. This should continue until the third week before sowing.
He added that the farmers are being engaged before the crop reaches the stage where it is most susceptible to the paddy bugs.
The outreach in Region Five touched the communities of Bath Settlement, Bush Lot and Cotton Tree.
Persaud pointed out that the outreach is part of a wider two-day programme across the country.
Different teams spent Saturday and Sunday engaging rice farmers in Regions Two (Pomeroon/ Supenaam), Three (Essequibo Islands/ West Demerara), Four (Demerara/ Mahaica) and Six (East Berbice/ Corentyne). In total there were 27 outreaches across the country.
Persaud said by engaging the farmers, they are on alert and take more steps to better manage the problem of paddy bug infestation.
According to the officials in the rice industry this control cannot be accomplished alone and General Secretary of the Guyana Rice Producers Association (GRPA), Mr. Dharamkumar Seeraj, said one key issue that is addressed during these outreaches is spraying chemicals to deal with the paddy bugs.
“The paddy bugs are dangerous in the milky stage and some farmers spray as soon as they see the paddy bugs. They not only waste the chemicals but also affect the natural environment,” he said.
Seeraj added that, in this context, “refresher” sessions with the farmer are important.
He maintained that the general idea of the outreach is to raise awareness and ensure that farmers control the paddy bugs in the way they should.
Entomologist, Ms Viviane Baharally, told the Guyana Chronicle in an interview that the paddy bugs are mainly present in the fields of those farmers who are at least 50 to 60 days away from sowing. However, some farmers whose crops are in the flowering stage may experience a few infestations as well.
She noted that farmers with crops in the flowering stage are advised not to spray their crops between the hours of eight and four each day, because this may damage their seeds, causing them to become wind seeds.
According to the entomologist 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.
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.