-GRDB Extension Manager Kuldip Ragnauth
Farmers who have participated in Farmers Field School sessions have seen tangible results in the form of increased rice yields, according to the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) Extension Manager, Mr. Kuldip Ragnauth. The general consensus among rice sector stakeholders is that farmers are the ones who drive the advancement of the sector. Key to their success is education, and here is where the Farmers’ Field Schools play a highly significant role.
Ragnauth explained that to encourage more participation from farmers the GRBD, with support from other stakeholder agencies, including the Guyana Rice Producers’Association (RPA), is establishing more field schools in all the rice-producing regions.
With GRDB’s 15 extension officers and another 12 from the RPA, the Farmers Field School sessions are conducted right in the farmers’ fields to deliver more practical educational support.
“To date we had about 26 Farmers Field Schools…the sessions normally coincide with the growing season. Right now harvesting is ongoing so the sessions have reduced,” he said.
The Six Points System
A significant part of the approach taken by the GRBD to facilitate these sessions and, by extension, improved productivity is the Six Points Programme.
The GRDB’s six points improved crop management practices focus on:
•    Timely sowing, which has much to do with understanding the solar curve plant density or, in other words, understanding when it is the best time to plant;
•    Seed density, or planting proportionate to the acreage. This is important because the farmer can see reduced yields if it is not done correctly;
•    Seed treatment, which is needed since in Guyana pre-germinated seeds are sown and these are prone to attacks by insects;
•    Weed control, which is recommended to be addressed with chemicals;
•    Balanced use of fertilizers, since the wrong amount can adversely affect the crop; and
•    Sound water management.
Emphasis was placed, as well, on balanced nutrition, a new component added to the six-points scheme designed to maximize production.
The six-points practice, without the added balanced nutrition component, was introduced in 2007 and is geared towards enhancing farmers’ productivity.
Also, the Farmer Field Schools, in all cases, were conducted under four guiding principles of Integrated Pest Management (I.P.M), and these were to: grow healthy crops; conserve natural enemies; conduct regular field observations; and to educate farmers to become I.P.M experts.
After the launch of the programme the first field school sessions started simultaneously in all the rice-growing regions under the guidance of joint GRDB/RPA Regional Extension Officers.
Seven of these schools were established, with one in Region 2 (Pomeroon/ Supenaam), two in Region 3 (Essequibo Islands/ West Demerara), one in Region 4 (Demerara/ Mahaica), one in Region 5 (Mahaica/ Berbice), and two in Region 6 (East Berbice/ Corentyne).
The Farmer Field School was reportedly initiated to ‘pool together’ the resources of the more experienced and productive farmers in a structured way to help address some of the concerns encountered by stakeholders in the industry.
It was envisaged that this initiative could be a very effective tool in bridging the yield gap, as it brings together farmers from diverse backgrounds whom are able to share their knowledge and experience for the benefit of each other.
Ultimately, farmers with limited experience are able to access other information and techniques in planting from the more experienced and knowledgeable farmers, thereby allowing them to improve on farming practices.
Additionally, the GRDB Extension Manager stated that Information Communication and Technology (ICT) is being utilized to ensure continued education.
Ragnauth said, “We are hoping to target more farmers with television programmes…it is working, because the feedback we have is that greater numbers of people are becoming even more knowledgeable.”
He added that another way to engage farmers is though Field Days and pointed out that for this year four such activities have been held in Regions Two, Three, Four and Six.
However, Ragnauth acknowledged that it is not all smooth sailing and noted that there has been some challenges facing the farmers and the extension officers in implementing the methodologies advanced via the Farmers Field Schools.
Primary of these, he said, is the application of these methodologies, which has to be done with precision.
Ragnauth explained that non-payment or delayed payment by millers severely affects the precision of efforts.
“ As an example, when the farmers don’t get paid then they can’t buy their fertilizers on time and the precision of the application is affected, which in turns affects the yield,” he said.
The GRBD Extension Manager stated that there needs to be smooth flow with the inputs for there to be optimal yield.
He observed that the Farmers Field School is one component of a bigger picture and that, once all the components function as they should, the sector will see increasing successes.
“The Farmers Field School makes a significant impact on the productivity of rice farmers, as well as empower them…this is the way forward for us to develop this industry, on-the-ground support to the people that drive the rice sector,” Ragnauth posited.