-as first crop for 2024 shows high acreage cultivation

THE Ministry of Agriculture on Thursday disclosed that the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) has surpassed its production target in the first crop of the year with approximately 209,000 acres of rice being cultivated.

These figures come at a time when the country is also experiencing warmer than usual weather conditions.

According to the ministry, subject minister Zulfikar Mustapha on Thursday also met with stakeholders in the local rice sector.

During that meeting, senior officials from the GRDB disclosed that critical and timely interventions made by the body saw the successful cultivation of the first crop for the year.

Meanwhile, the ministry stated that land preparation has already commenced with approximately 150,000 acres receiving dry land preparation.

According to the ministry, The GRDB has also commenced sensitising farmers about the advised sowing periods for the second crop. Extension officers are currently hosting awareness sessions with farmers within the rice-growing regions.

In the coming days, advisories will also be shared via the agencies and the ministry’s website, social media pages, television, and daily newspapers.

In 2023, the rice sector recorded an increase of seven per cent with a production of 653,706 metric tonnes. This signifies an increase in the production of 43,111 metric tons in 2023 as compared to 610,595 in 2022.

Guyana earned approximately $45.2 billion in exports in 2023 over $3 billion more than in 2022.

Minister Mustapha back in January had disclosed that the ministry had projected that rice production would increase to 710,000 metric tons in 2024.
“We set a target of 710,000 tons to increase production from 653,000 tons. That is the progress I am talking about. We brought out a new variety which is called the zinc-enriched, biofortified rice. Today, those varieties are being given to farmers. That variety will attract preferential prices around the world. That is the kind of thing we are doing,” Minister Mustapha had said.

This year, $1.3 billion was budgeted to be expended by the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) to support increased production and productivity of the rice industry.