NATIONALLY, dry land preparations for the 2016 paddy Spring crop, usually sown at this time
and harvested early in the New Year, were 97 per cent completed as at last weekend.Figures released by the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) indicate that, within the six
rice producing areas, resilient rice farmers had completed dry land preparations of 220,116
acres of land out of the targeted 227,167 acres, the national target for the upcoming crop.
The figures also showed sowing as having been completed at 21 per cent of the targeted
total.
Officials of the GRDB attributed the 21 per cent sown — somewhat late in comparison to
other spring crops — to shortage of irrigation water as a result of the prevailing dry
weather conditions.
“Complete sowing has been delayed by about two weeks, mainly due to the prevailing El Nino conditions,” acting GRDB General Manager Nizam Hassan said yesterday.
He, however, opined that the 97 per cent dry land preparation completion amounted to a
sizable investment by farmers, which indicated that they were committed to going through
with the spring crop.
“The general pattern is that, once they start the crop, they will complete it,” he said.
Another official disclosed that the 220,116 acres prepared was close to the acreage
prepared and sown for the spring crop 2014.
“Barring the delays caused by the El Nino conditions, and given that farmers have already
invested in this large acreage of dry land preparation, I think I can safely say that this
spring crop for 2016 is well underway,” he said.
As at December 4th, rice farmers in Region 5 (Mahaica/Berbice) were leading the percentages
, with dry land preparation of 98,041 acres out of the regional target of 99,141 acres.
Farmers in Region 6 (East Berbice/ Corentyne) had completed 53,769 acres out of the 60,307
acres targeted for preparation, and were ready for irrigation. Farmers in Region 3
(Essequibo Islands/West Demerara) had completed dry land preparation of 17,082 acres out
of a targeted 21,347 acres. Farmers in Region 4 (Mahaica/ Berbice) had completed 8,777
acres, exceeding the targeted acreage of 8,502 acres by 275 acres. Farmers in Region 2
(Pomeroon/Supenaam) had completed 35,835 acres out of the 36,297 acres targeted; and
farmers in Region 9 (Upper Takutu/Upper Essequibo) had completed 605 acres out of the
1576 acres targeted.
The GRDB is projecting a harvest of 502,587 metric tonnes of paddy for the Spring crop of
2016.
By Clifford Stanley