GENERAL-SECRETARY of the Guyana Rice Producers’ Association (RPA), Dharamkumar Seeraj, told the Guyana Chronicle that harvesting of the autumn crop is progressing well, and to date over 75 per cent of the crop has been reaped.
Region Two (Pomeroon/ Supenaam), Three (Essequibo Islands/ West Demerara), Five (Mahaica/ Berbice) and Six (East Berbice/ Corentyne) are Guyana’s main rice producers.
Seeraj pointed out that in Region Two, approximately 200 acres are to be harvested and in Regions Three and Four, around 15 and 10 per cent respectively of the total crop is to be reaped.
Regions Five and Six have more work to do, with 30 and 27 per cent of the crop still to be harvested, and Seeraj noted that this is because these regions planted their crops a later that the other regions.
The only bugbear in the harvesting process is the weather, according to him, but he noted that generally, productivity is comparable to last seasons.

Yield

This year, the rice target is 4.2 million bags of paddy from 175,000 acres, and projections indicate a production of 356,000 tonnes of paddy, an increase compared to last year’s 342,000 tonnes. The Agriculture Ministry also reported an increase in the acreage cultivated by an estimated 20,000.
Seeraj noted that on average, farmers are making a yield of 28 bags of paddy per acre and in some regions as much as 30 bags per acre.
Region Two, which usually does well, particularly because the farmers take pains to ensure their land is leveled – a method proved to increase yield – did not perform as expected.
Seeraj noted that this was primarily because of the difficulties posed by the weather patterns.
However, on a brighter side, he observed that Regions Three and Four did better than last season.
“The quality of the paddy, relative to last year, is much better…the yield has dropped a bit because of the challenges, but we are seeing improvements with the quality,” Seeraj said.
He added that farmers are pleased with the prices they are receiving for their crops, which ranges between $2,600 and $3,400 in some regions.
Seeraj stated too that prices on the international markets have moved up some, and rice sector stakeholders are optimistic that they will remain this way.
Seventy per cent of Guyana’s rice is exported to extra regional markets and Seeraj said good prices on the international scene means not only more profits locally, but more importantly, less losses.

Venezuela Rice Deal

One of the newer deals which guarantees a market for Guyana’s rice is the second agreement with Venezuela, to the tune of some US$38M, for the supply of 50,000 tonnes of paddy and 20,000 tonnes of white rice.
Seeraj said this crop, more and more farmers are looking to benefit from this agreement.
Some farmers in Region Two have formed themselves into a group and are supplying directly to the Venezuela market, cutting out the middle man and increasing their disposable income.
Seeraj said the group is bringing its paddy to Georgetown for export and are making progress.
He added that individual farmers in Regions Five and Six have also taken advantage of the opportunity to supply Venezuela and fulfill Guyana’s agreement.
“It is a good thing that more and more farmers are getting involved in the post harvest process. This way, they have a greater appreciation for the processing and export of paddy and rice…there are no doubts about the agreement being met,” Seeraj said.
He added that the industry is immensely appreciative of such an agreement, a guarantee of markets for paddy before the crop is even harvested.
He added that now that the crop is coming to a close, many farmers are looking to improve their capacity.
This is in addition to the moves being made by the current administration to enhance infrastructure and secure markets.
“In light of what is being done, there is a renewed interest among the commercial banks in the rice sector and I think assistance, especially for technical advancements, will be facilitated for next crop,” Seeraj said.
He made it clear that the sector has come a long way and the successes of this crop, in spite of the challenges, is testimony to the farmers’ dedication and government’s will to keep the rice industry on the move.