Rice farmers from five regions discuss cultivation strategy
THE Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) and the Rice Producers Association (RPA) jointly hosted a farmers field day exchange visit on Thursday, at Bounty Hall, on the  Essequibo Coast. GRDB Extension Manager, Mr. Kuldip Ragnauth said farmers from Regions Six (East Berbice/Corentyne), Five (Mahaica/Berbice), Four (Demerara/Mahaica), Three (Essequibo Islands/West Demerara) and Two (Pomeroon/Supenaam) participated.
He said the second in a 2011 series planned for the rice-growing areas across the country was aimed at gathering together farmers from the different rice-growing administrative regions to interact and share experiences for addressing common problems in the industry.
Ragnauth said the participants were taken aback of Bounty Hall to see an experimental plot that was cultivated by planter, Mr. Rovin Persaud, using the GRDB six-point system.
The six-acre farm was sown on November 23, 2010, with the G98–196 variety, at a seeding rate of 135 pounds per acre and the seeds were treated with ‘Cruiser’ insecticide at a rate of 0.6 millilitres per pound of seed. The fertiliser used was ‘TSP’ at a rate of 82.5 pounds per acre.
The observer group was also given an update on the insect control time of spraying and water management and they discussed, among themselves, the expected yields from the experiment.
Ragnauth informed them that the first such exchange was at Cane Grove, East Coast  Demerara, where the plot was cultivated with the six- point practice and produced 48 bags per acre.
He said researchers indentified six management practices that are essential for high yields and must be employed in an integrated manner, with precision, for large yield increases.
The Bounty Hall visit ended with an interactive session under the Voice of Faith Miracle Ministries crusade tent at Westbury, where Agriculture Minister, Mr. Robert Persaud; Region Two Chairman, Mr. Alli Baksh; GRDB General Manager, Mr. Jagnarine Singh and RPA General Secretary, Mr. Dharamkumar Seeraj were also involved in discussions on the current rice crop.