THE condition of rice fields, according to General Secretary of the Guyana Rice Producers’ Association (RPA), Mr. Dharamkumar Seeraj, is the pressing concern at this time, despite the fact that the weather has somewhat improved.
He explained that because of adverse weather conditions, harvesters are unable to get into fields to reap the paddy.
In Region Three (Essequibo Islands/ West Demerara), Seeraj stated that there are several rice fields ready for harvest, but the condition of the fields is making the process difficult.
Compounding the situation, he said, is the condition of the access dams.
“We are working with the regional administration to mobilise resources so that access dams can be repaired to ensure that we can get the paddy out of the fields,” he said.

According to him, the weather has caused many complications for rice farmers, many of whom suffered losses.
However, he pointed out, the Ministry of Agriculture, through the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB), has been issuing vouchers that farmers can use to collect seed paddy and fertiliser – an effort to ensure that they are able to return to productive activity.
“We are working on ensuring that farmers have all the support necessary,” Seeraj said.
For the spring crop, the total acreage sown in the rice producing regions were 35,500 acres in Region Two (Pomeroon/ Supenaam); 14,000 acres in Region Three; 6,000 acres in Region Four (Demerara/ Mahaica); over 70,000 acres in Region Five (Mahaica/ Berbice); and some 47,000 acres in Region Six (East Berbice/ Corentyne).
Seeraj is optimistic that despite the challenges, yields will be good enough to allow supplies to reach   the different markets.