RICE harvesting is expected to begin within another few weeks on the Essequibo Coast. According to reports, farmers are making use of the current hot weather conditions to drain their fields in preparation for harvest. Reports said harvesting will start in the south end of the coast as fields with rice in Perserverance, Golden Fleece and Johanna Cecilia are in the ripening stages. More than 37,000 acres are under cultivation and production is expected to surpass 1,500,000 bags of paddy.
Meanwhile the Region 2 Administration is chipping and grading dams in the rice growing areas so farmers can transport their paddy quickly to rice mills.
Some farmers said they are expecting millers to pay them more than $3,000 for a bag of paddy and are looking forward to prompt payment. They said many farmers in the Region are still owed  large sums for paddy sold to millers since the last crop. (Rajendra Prabhulall)