THE Guyana Rice Development Board, (GRDB), has dispatched a team of extension officers headed by Entomologist Dr Vivien Baharally of the research station at Burma, Mahaicony to investigate reports of “worms” that have infected the roots of rice plants in some villages on the Corentyne Coast.

In a release, the GRDB said farmers of the Nos 63-68 villages, Corentyne, had reported an invasion of the plant-hopper, a known pest of rice last month, and were advised on methods of control, but now farmers in other areas are reporting an invasion of worms that have not yet been verified. The farmers are claiming that the worms have affected the yields of rice ready for harvest.

The GRDB’s extension officers have verified the presence of the plant-hoppers in the Nos.63-68 areas, and in this regard recommended measures of control, using systemic insecticides. Farmers are advised to rotate the use of insecticides if more than one application is required. Farmers may also contact the respective extension officers for advice on issues of control of the plant-hoppers.

Over the next few days, the GRDB’s entomologist and extension team will be investigating reported sightings of the worms in farmers’ fields with a view to identifying and recommending methods of control. Farmers in all rice-growing regions of the country are asked to report any issues affecting rice production in their areas to the respective extension officers of the GRDB. Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), is expecting a bumper harvest for the first crop of 2018 with some 56,000 acres sown.