FARMERS nationwide, who were experiencing severe difficulties in preparation for the first rice crop of 2021, will be compensated.
This is according to Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha, who noted that farmers complained bitterly about the prominently produced variety – GRDB 10; they claim it is not germinating properly or in some cases, not at all.

The minister, during a press conference on Friday, said: “Farmers have [complained] from as far as from Essequibo and I’ve already given instructions to ensure that we compensate those farmers [and] ensure that we replace those seeds.”

The minister urged farmers to make use of other varieties, including the recently launched GRDB 16, which is expected to be the highest yielding variety in the country.
“The other varieties, however, have not received any complaints. GRDB 10 is a high yielding variety; that is why most farmers are trying to get this variety.

“I also want to encourage farmers to look at the new variety that we would have launched a few weeks back, is the GRDB 16 that has the potential to be the highest yielding variety in our country….On the pilot project that we would have conducted, farmers would have received between 55 to 65 bags per acre for that variety and I want to encourage farmers to use that variety.”

In the meantime, the Ministry has advised that farmers, who have been experiencing difficulties with the GRDB 10, to soak the seeds for 18-24 hours and press in small pieces (to allow good air circulation), for 36 to 54 hours.