THE Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB), on Wednesday, hosted an Open Day in the Rice Research Station, at Burma, Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara.
It was part of the activities to observe Agriculture Month 2012 under the theme ‘Better Technology, Better Farming – Ensuring Food Security’.

The programme highlighted technology development and its application.
Delivering the feature address, Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy disclosed that 12 new rice varieties were introduced since 1995, contributing to the production in Guyana which has been on the increase despite adverse weather conditions.
He said, in 2011, production surpassed the previous year’s projection, as a whooping 400,000 tonnes was produced.
Referring to the occasion, he said: “This event and the hosting of another Agriculture Month of activities give us an opportunity to publicly salute rice farmers for their achievements over the years, which have seen us producing enough for local and international obligations.”
Underscoring the importance of the industry, Ramsammy said investments over time demonstrate that the Government of Guyana remains committed to continued successes and expansion of the cultivation.
However, he cautioned that the work of the researchers must never be undermined, as their expertise has seen varieties being produced which are now flood and drought tolerant.

MUCH DEEPER
Ramsammy said the work of the GRDB is not about throwing rice to grow but is much deeper than that, where in-depth studies and research are done.
“Once this is embarked upon, within a short period, 500,000 tonnes of rice can be easily produced…we are a rice producing country, which supplies other countries and going this way will enable Guyana to reduce importation,” he posited.
Ramsammy said the GRDB method of agriculture is a success story, in which neighbouring Suriname has asked Guyana to collaborate with the aim of developing rice varieties and sharing expertise for enhanced production.
He also spoke of the advantages being taken by millers on rice farmers, and warned that the former will be dealt with accordingly if they do not do the right thing, by treating the latter as they ought to.
Ramsammy acknowledged that many farmers were treated unjustly, over the years, by some millers who were withholding millions of dollars in payment for paddy produced.
He said the necessary arrangements are being implemented, by his ministry, for framers to be paid in a timely manner by defaulting millers.
“The Mahaicony Rice Mill is one such entity which came in for flak over the years, for non-payment. Then Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud intervened and a separate account was opened to hold all proceedings from rice transactions, an account that was jointly managed by the entity and Government,” Ramsammy revealed.
Minister in the Ministry of Agriculture, Mr. Alli Baksh, who also spoke, emphasised the importance of rice research in Guyana.
He said a lot is being done in that regard to improve the methods of rice development and admitted that agriculture plays an important role in food security, as Guyana has the potential to be the breadbasket of the Caribbean.
Chairman of Region Five (Mahaica/Berbice), Mr. Bindranauth Bisnauth, in his contribution, said the agriculture sector recorded that, from 1995, farmers were producing less than 2,000 bags of paddy per acre, compared to the 20,000 now being produced.
Apart from guided tours at Burma, there was a mini exhibition on the lawns as well as the distribution of relevant literature to framers, students of the Guyana Agriculture School (GSA) and other invitees.