GUYANA’S rice industry has been progressing steadily despite challenges, including unusual weather patterns and the high cost of inputs.
This positive trend, however, has not come about by accident or chance.
It has resulted from the sound agricultural policies and programmes targeting improvements in all facets of the industry, including heavy emphasis on drainage and irrigation, scientific research and marketing, farmers’ education and the provision of duty free fuel and machinery.
Positive strides in rice are part of the current government’s steady focus on improving agriculture since it took office in October, 1992 and inherited an almost collapsed agriculture sector.
In fact, previous governments led by the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), recognising the importance of agriculture, have always placed tremendous focus on it. So much so that the PPP government of 1957-1964 was dubbed a “rice government” by the main opposition party as production of rice soared during that period, increasing by some 74%.
Unfortunately, when the main opposition party took office in 1964, the rice industry began to slide continuously because of a de-emphasis on agriculture which resulted in smaller budgetary allocations for drainage and irrigation, scientific research and closure of duty free concessions on fuel and other inputs.
A heavy emphasis on agriculture was reintroduced and the results are obvious, including the sound stewardship of the rice sector.
Rice cultivation has now spread from the coastal belt and history was made last week when a crop was harvested for the first time at Moco Moco in the Rupununi.
This is a most heartening development and dismisses the long held notion that rice could only be successfully cultivated on the coast.
It is important too because it enhances food security in the hinterland and increases employment and commercial opportunities.
The Moco Moco project is another example of the government’s commitment to hinterland development which was terribly neglected by the administration in the pre-1992 era.
The government must be given full commendation for realising such a project since advancing agricultural development in hinterland communities poses enormous challenges because of culture, history, geography, logistics and other factors.
At the reaping of the crop at Moco Moco, Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud assured the community that investments will continue to be made as the government’s approach to development is “even-handed”.
He said there is no reason why the Rupununi cannot be part of Guyana’s agricultural advancements because neighbouring Brazil has proven that savannah lands can be used for commercial agriculture.
The minister noted that this country can benefit from what has happened in Brazil and there can be a transfer of the technology that worked there with massive investments being made across the board.
He referred to other projects underway in that part of Guyana, but the Moco Moco rice harvest, though small compared to the national scale, is further tangible evidence of the advancing programme to ensure food security around the country.