GENERAL Manager of the Guyana Rice Development Board [GRDB], Mr. Jagnarine Singh, has said more than 10,000 acres are already sown with paddy on the Essequibo Coast for the autumn crop.

According to Mr. Singh, up to last Friday a total of 10,585 acres were sown. He said cultivation for the crop will increase to some 36,000 acres on the Essequibo Coast. Mr. Singh said most of the sowing is taking place in the south of the coast, Aurora to Anna Regina. The crop had suffered a snail attack, but the extension arm of the GRDB has the problem under control. According to Singh, a snail powder was used to eradicate the pests. He said himself and officers visited several fields to get a first -hand look at the problem.
Speaking about rice and paddy shipment to Venezuela, the general manager said farmers are given advance payments from a $2.5B advance payment provided by government and based on the shipment of paddy and rice to Venezuela. Mr. Singh said within another week, the shipment of rice and paddy to Venezuela will start. He said rice takes three weeks to reach Venezuela because of transshipment points and containers, while paddy takes only three days to reach the neighbouring country.
He said some millers are currently milling and transporting rice to Georgetown in preparation for the shipment.