GENERAL SECRETARY of the Guyana Rice Producers Association (RPA), Dharamkumar Seeraj, said that the current weather pattern is posing some challenges to rice production. According to him, all regions in Guyana where rice is being planted are affected by the constant rainfall. However, farmers in Regions Five (Mahaica/Berbice)and Six (East Berbice/Corentyne) are facing more difficulties since their crops were planted late.
Seeraj went on to explain that for rice production to run smoothly there should be six-to-seven months of dry weather. However, with the unpredictable weather patterns in Guyana, he noted that situations like these cannot be avoided and there is not much that can really be done.
One major challenge that the rice industry faces during rainy weather is that maintenance of the infrastructure cannot be carried out.  Hence, the state of several dams becomes deplorable and it is very costly to execute repairs on them.
Seeraj stated that with the on-and-off rains, rice farmers are now forced to plough the wet land.
On the other hand, General Manager of the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB), Jagnarayan Singh believes that the rainfall has some benefits for rice farmers countrywide. Firstly, adequate water is provided by the rain and farmers do not have the trouble of having to pump water into the rice fields.
In addition, Singh advised that the rainfall allows farmers who had a late start to still be able to plant their crops.
Although he believes that challenges are minimal, he said that the rainfall does have its negative side since it has extended beyond the expected period and is hindering preparations for the following crop.
Nevertheless, Singh believes, as of now, that the rice industry is gearing towards a good crop.