RICE farmers on the Essequibo Coast are making full use of the current rainy season to prepare and sow their fields for the spring crop.

Reports from the Guyana Rice Development Board [GRDB] at Anna Regina indicate that some farmers in the south and north of the coast have already completed their sowing, and some even have three-week-old rice plants in their fields.

Other farmers are reportedly busy preparing and levelling their fields preparatory to sowing in the lowland areas, while farmers in the highlands are awaiting a supply of irrigation water to
begin preparing for sowing.

The Drainage and Irrigation Department of the Region 2 Administration is reportedly currently releasing water from its conservancies/main canal to irrigate fields in the different sections. Altogether, some 36,967 acres are expected to be cultivated with rice for the 2015 spring crop.

The GRDB has reported that a shipment of 20,000 bags of urea fertilizer is expected in the Region shortly to boost the growth of the crop. Reports are that the fertiliser, provided by the Government and GRDB, will be sold to farmers at the most affordable cost of $5,000 per bag. A senior officer of the GRDB office at Anna Regina said each farmer will be entitled to two bags per acre.

(Rajendra Prabhulall)