CONCERNS over the stability of Guyana’s rice trade agreement with neighbouring Venezuela were put to rest after the Agriculture Minister, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, assured that that there are no problems with the market.

And yesterday, he told the Guyana Chronicle that with the agreements concluded, ships are being arranged to move the rice and paddy from Guyana to Venezuela.
The rice importing authority in Venezuela had concluded the purchase orders and shipping schedules for Guyana to begin shipments last week.
Guyana and Venezuela have agreed on the amounts and price for Guyana’s paddy and rice. Based on the agreements, Guyana expects to ship close to 200,000 tons at a price that is similar to last year’s prices.
In addition to looking to expand Guyana’s share in global rice markets, the Ministry of Agriculture is making advances with new strains of rice.
Scientists at the Burma Rice Research Station have been instrumental in the past in releasing new line of rice varieties, which have proven not only to enable farmers to harvest more bags of paddy per acre, but can withstand harsh climatic conditions.
Research to improve yield levels and tolerance to changing climate conditions are ongoing, with the Rice Research Station expected to introduce new rice varieties soon.
GRDB 9, 10 and 11, which were released over the last three years, have become the star of the industry, the consensus from rice farmers across the country, reaping yields of up to 60 bags per acre.
Apart from tests being done to have more varieties released, the Research Station has also developed pedigree nurseries where testing for resistance to pest and disease, tolerance to lodging and blast resistance varieties are ongoing.
“The Research Station has come a long way over the years, and its work, coupled with investment and farmers input, has seen the industry propelling…it is the hope of the government to continue to work with the Research Station through the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) to have the station evolve by incorporating new techniques,” Minister Ramsammy said.
One of the focal issues in agriculture is climate change, and cognisant of its effects, the developments of new rice varieties are necessary.
Climate change impacts negatively on the availability, stability, access and utilisation of food security, and according to Minister Ramsammy, the development of rice varieties which are blast resistance and have high milling qualities can be not only beneficial to millers and farmers, but to the industry as a whole.
“Food security is most vulnerable, and as such, it is important that we (Government) continue to push for the right varieties of rice to be developed, hence the reasons for pushing for climate smart agriculture,” the minister said.
The GRDB has also incorporated the use of the six point practice which has also proven successful with farmers across the rice growing regions adopting. The six improved crop management practices include date of planting, density, treatment of seeds, weed control, fertilisation and water management. These techniques fall under the Ministry of Agriculture’s programme of having farmers adopt proper farm husbandry.

(By Vanessa Narine)