WHILE increasing food production in the agricultural sector is in line with plans to be sustainable and resilient, the bio-fortified rice variety with nutritionally enhanced zinc, which is anticipated to provide farmers and Guyana with enormous relief, was harvested on Saturday.

This significant project forms part of an effective partnership between the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB), the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), Fondo Latinoamericano para Arroz de Riego (FLAR), CARICOM, among others. The ceremony was hosted at Karmananda Basdeo’s plot at Lesbeholden, Black Bush Polder, Region Six.
Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha underscored that this variety of rice will provide various opportunities to the farmers, given that the variety’s nutritional value exceeds that of conventional rice.

He emphasised the significance of this new type for the general public, farmers, and the nation.

“We are launching a variety of rice that will shortly become an official variety for farmers in our country, so that they can cultivate it. This variety of rice will attract preferential prices around the Region and different parts of the world.” Minister Mustapha added that this undertaking was made possible because of the investments made over time to equip the GRDB’s rice research facility with the relevant facilities.

Guyana was chosen to conduct this trial due to the research station’s excellent performance and the government’s obvious desire to revive the agricultural industry.
Minister Mustapha further revealed that this candidate type has a stronger tolerance to climatic conditions seen in the country, noting the effects that climate change continues to have on the agricultural industry internationally.

Over the years, there has been unparalleled growth in the agricultural sector, due to the implementation of transformative projects.
Meanwhile, IICA’s Country Representative, Wilmot Garnett, noted that IICA will continue to support financially and with their technical expertise, the work of the GRBD, bio-fortified rice, and other projects.

“In 2019, we made the decision to do this work in the bio-fortified rice. We are very pleased to go back to the Caribbean Week of Agriculture this year in The Bahamas to highlight that we have that…the importance is with your partnership,” he said.

Director-General of the ministry, Madanlall Ramraj, the GRBD’s General Manager Badrie Persaud, and CARICOM’s Programme Manager, Shaun Baugh, also delivered remarks at the ceremony. (DPI)