THE heavy rainfall over the last few days has not affected the rice sector, according General Secretary of the Guyana Rice Producers Association (RPA), Mr. Dharamkumar Seeraj.
He reported that farmers in Region 5 (Demerara/ Mahaica) were the most recent grouping to voice concerns of the lack of water to facilitate sowing of the year’s first crop.“We had a meeting with the farmers and are looking at ways to assist,” he said.
Sowing in Region 5, as well as 6 (East Berbice/ Corentyne) is still to be completed, Seeraj disclosed.
However, the RPA General Secretary acknowledged that the process is finished in Regions 2 (Pomeroon/ Supenaam) and 3 (Essequibo Islands/West Demerara), with a small acreage in Region 4 (Demerara/Mahaica) still to unfinished.
Commenting about the losses in Region 2, following the breach of the main drainage dam in Airy Hall, Essequibo Coast, which flooded some 350 acres of rice land, Seeraj said approximately 223 acres of produce was lost.
“This is young rice. The older rice was able to handle being under water for a little longer,” he pointed out.
Seeraj explained that, depending on the variety sown, the rice lands can withstand major damage for up to 36 hours.
“We have advised the farmers in the area not to sow again, because the crop will come in late. But some of them have expressed the desire to go ahead with sowing.
“We can advise but at the end of the day the final decision is up to the farmers,” he admitted.
The production target for this first 2014 harvest is 270,000 tonnes and RPA’s General Secretary expressed confidence of meeting it.
The total produced for 2013 was 535,212 tonnes, which was far above the original target of 413,000 tonnes and reflected a 27 percent increase over that in 2012.