CONSTANT, heavy rainfall on the Essequibo Coast is now giving rice farmers “headaches” because their crops are in various stages of growth and so much rainfall is not needed at this time. Region 2 (Pomeroon/Supenaam) Chairman, Parmanand Persaud said the situation looks very worrisome because of the constant, heavy showers.
The chairman said the rice crop looks very good and encouraging but farmers are in need of the sunny weather now.
Mr. Persaud said the current wet weather is also delaying the start of preparation of access dams in the rice-growing areas along the coast. He said the regional administration Drainage and Irrigation Department will start to grade and level dams as soon as the weather changes so farmers can transport their produce quickly from fields to factories.
Some farmers of Walton Hall and Paradise also reported that hundreds of black birds are attacking their fields and sucking the milky substance from the young rice grains.
The farmers said the birds are difficult to control.