RICE farmers on the Essequibo Coast are busy harvesting paddy from their fields now that the weather, there, has changed to hot sunshine.
Reaping is in progress between Aurora and New Road and, although access dams are not in good condition, the produce is still being transported, to factories, by tractors and trailers. The recent heavy rainfall had affected the harvest in some areas but planters, determined to reap their crop, succeeded after the sudden weather change.
A total of 32,500 acres were cultivated and most of the yield is being taken to Ramlakhan Rice Complex at ExMouth, where the private rice miller is paying some $4,000 a bag of quality paddy.
A visit to the mill found scores of vehicles laden with the grains to sell, parked and waiting along the public road.