THE Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) has disclosed that sowing of the first crop for 2022 began on November 15, 2021 and is expected to end on December 31, 2021.
The first (spring) crop is planted in November-December and harvested in March-April. According to the GRDB, when sowing is done during this period it allows for the rice plant to flower during the period of high-light intensity which results in higher yields being obtained.
The GRDB further disclosed that synchronization of the planting of rice encourages block planting which will result in better water management and, consequently, conservation, pest control and preservation of dams and access roads.
As it is, Guyana’s rice industry remains among the leading income earners, raking in some US$123,023,868 (G$25.7 billion) from the export of paddy, rice and rice by-products between January and June 2021, alone.
Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha, had said that these earnings, which resulted from the production of 280,878 tonnes of paddy, represent an improvement when compared to the corresponding period last year, which saw the exportation of 242,000 tonnes of paddy, rice and rice by-products, resulting in earnings that totalled US$99 million.
For the entire 2020, the rice industry raked in US$236.2 million (G$51 billion), as a result of exportation of 574,312 tonnes of paddy, rice, and its by-products.
Even as Guyana looks to double its rice production, the events of 2021, particularly the devastating April-May floods, posed a minor challenge.
However, Minister Mustapha had said that significant efforts have gone into minimising losses and ensuring that farmers are able to return to their fields and get back into production.
The most impactful of these efforts has been the distribution of flood-relief grants which have already seen thousands of farmers in all sectors benefitting from $7.8 billion in direct financial injections. With the majority of rice farmers having returned to the fields, Minister Mustapha had said that he was not expecting any substantial dip in the industry. However, he noted, “We still have to wait and see at the end of it all.”
Rice Farmers in Regions Five (Mahaica-Berbice) and Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) have borne the brunt of the flooding which lasted for more than 60 days in some areas.
Nonetheless, as far as this year goes, Guyana is still hoping to be able to export some 649,480 tonnes of paddy, rice and its by-products, to the value of close to US$257.3 million.
MASSIVE SCALE UP
Meanwhile, the government is looking to significantly expand rice production, particularly in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara).
According to a document provided by Minister Mustapha, authorities are eyeing a massive increase of one million bags of paddy, at least by 2025.
This scale up, according to the minister, is being accommodated by way of a number of investments, which have already come on stream, and have begun to bear fruit. These include the reduction in ferry charges to transport paddy from the island of Wakenaam to Parika from $550 to $80 per bag; allowing transportation payments on credit terms; ensuring that farmers transporting paddy from Parika to Leguan Island can return for free; increased seed paddy availability to farmers from 1,636 bags to 2,067 bags; the introduction of new paddy varieties, such as the GRBD 16 which currently occupies 21 per cent of the region’s rice acreage; the construction of a drying floor at Wakenaam, among other measures.
The region, according to Minister Mustapha’s document, has also benefitted from a bio-fortified trial done at Den Amstel, West Coast Demerara; the cleaning of most drainage and irrigation canals, the expansion of the GRDB’s sub-office at Crane, also on the West Coast of Demerara; decentralised seed growers, which increased from 38 acres to 71, as well as the provision of key machinery such as excavators.
