ANOTHER record-breaking rice crop is expected, with some 220,000 acres currently under cultivation, and harvesting is to begin in the next two months.
Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy made the disclosure about the spring crop figures earlier this week, and said that he believed that a record production of 550,000 tonnes for 2014 is not impossible.Production last year amounted to 535,000 tonnes and there are some who say that production this year may actually reach 600,000 tonnes given the increased capability of farmers to achieve higher yields per acre, he said.
The autumn crop of 2013 produced 271,000 tonnes and was the largest single crop ever in the history of rice production. Total production in 2013 amounted to a record breaking 535,000 tonnes.
Dr. Ramsammy said that given the larger acreages being cultivated and improved farming techniques being practised by rice farmers, the industry looks set for yet another record breaking year and a major contribution to the economy.
He said that farmers are being continuously encouraged to carry out crop husbandry practices that will produce as much paddy as possible per acre because the cost of production for one acre must now lead to more production per acre.
He disclosed that the government’s target for the industry for 2014 is 470,000 tonnes. However, he clarified, “That is a conservative target but we’re going with all the constraints that we could have.”
“We have to ensure that we can sell our rice. We will have to deal with markets that are there and for those who think that there aren’t markets, there are plenty markets but also our farmers are used to a market that provides a particular price and so this is our challenge right now,” the agriculture minister added.
Written By Clifford Stanley