– minimum impact on production, Agriculture Minister
AGRICULTURE Minister Robert Persaud on Wednesday said La Nina support is winding down, and to date assessments done by his ministry indicate that there has been minimum impact on production.
He stated that over 5,000 farmers have been assisted to cope with the effects of La Nina phenomenon.
Persaud stated that with regard to the rice crop, there have been losses, but he expressed optimism about meeting the production target of 4.4 million bags of paddy.
The Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) and the Mahaica Mahaicony Abary Agricultural Development Authority (MMA/ADA) have assisted rice farmers in the past months by providing fuel to farmers who were pumping water from their lands.
It is estimated that in excess of 15,000 gallons of fuel were distributed by the MMA/ADA to farmers to pump water out of their cultivation and to undertake emergency works.
In addition to the fuel intervention, the MMA/ADA has already installed fifty HDPE tubes to assist with drainage. Another MMA/ADA intervention is the rental of machines to assist farmers with empoldering their land.
The GRDB has also identified critical dams that are in need of grading, enabling farmers to transport their paddy from the fields to the mill. Working with the Guyana Rice Producers’ Association (RPA), the GRDB has executed rehabilitation of priority dams.
The RPA, in conjunction with the Regional Officials, has already commenced work in Regions Two (Pomeroon/ Supenaam), Three (Essequibo Islands/ West Demerara) and Five (Mahaica/ Berbice).

Return to Production

Following an assessment by the GRDB to verify the acreage of rice crop lost, farmers will benefit from the distribution of seed paddy and fertilizer during the next crop.
The voucher distribution is currently ongoing in Regions Two, Three, Four (Demerara/ Mahaica), Five and Six (East Berbice/ Corentyne). To date some 178 rice farmers have already received vouchers at a total cost of $15,154,000.
Additionally, as the water recedes from the fields, cash crop farmers are also being supported with planting materials and chemicals so that they can begin the replanting process.
To date, over 2500 farmers have received assistance.
Persaud stressed that this assistance for the cash crop farmers has stretched across all 10 administrative regions:
* Region One (Barima/ Waini): farmers in 16 Villages supported and another 25 villages are to benefit by May 9
* Region Two: 210 farmers assisted, along with farmers from eight Amerindian villages.  Some 60 farmers will have support by May 15
* Region Three: 418 farmers have received assistance. Another 100 farmers in Canal No 2, Parika Backdam, Maripa, Bendorff to benefit by May 6
* Region Four: Some 1,068 farmers supported to date and another 45 farmers to be assisted by May 6
* Region Five: 434 farmers supported, with 78 farmers more to receive aid by May 10
* Region Six: Farmers requested machinery to aid their return to production, and to date, farmers in two Amerindian communities have benefited, as well as 150 farmers in riverine areas. Other are expected to be assisted by May 15
* Region Seven (Cuyuni/ Mazaruni): To date, 13 farmers have received aid and an additional 15 will benefit by May 21
* Region Eight (Potaro/ Siparuni): Farmers in five villages have been assisted and others to benefit by May 15
* Region Nine (Upper Takutu/ Upper Essequibo): Some 41 communities to benefit as the assistance programme comes to an end May 15, and in
* Region 10 (Upper Demerara/ Upper Berbice): Some 375 farmers have benefited.
Turning to support for livestock farmers, Persaud announced that they are to benefit next week from the distribution of breeding animals.
Replacement of chicks and ducklings has commenced, and to date some 1,180 chicks and 1,843 ducklings have been distributed.
The Ministry’s Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA) has been also continuously providing veterinary treatment to thousands of animals affected by the recent flooding along the coast and in Region 10.
With the water level receding in some of the areas, feed supplements such as bran, grass, straw and molasses are currently being distributed to farmers in Regions Three, Four and in the Region Five areas that have been most affected.
The Agriculture Minister contends that farmers need to be vigilant and on guard in light of the unprecedented weather conditions – a result of the climate change phenomenon that is facing Guyana and the world.