OVER the past years, we have seen that Guyana has been receiving increased rice prices on the international market.
This trend as I said in previous letters to the media was due to the good management of Mr. Jagnarine Singh General Manager and his hard working team of the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) and the Honourable Minister of Agriculture Mr. Robert Persaud. Guyana and Suriname are small rice producers, and in the last few years faced serious threats to its earning position as Vietnam began offering more competitive prices. This is undoubtedly a bold move to capture a greater share of the international market.
There was a significant disparity in export prices.However, the difference was greatly reduced. It is not clear what is responsible for this. With the current trend, it is expected that at some point these prices will increase significantly.
The implications for Guyana and Suriname were quite serious indeed at that time. these producers will have to expect that these prices offered will soon be translated into this market and will inevitable  be good for the rice farmers and the comparatively low  prices previously being enjoyed. In addition, more rice from extra-regional sources are entering the Caribbean markets, regional producers will have grave difficulties in competing. So the Venezuelan market is a great blessing in disguise. Guyanese rice producers will have to pay greater attention to cost of production and efficiency.
The consequences of these high prices are already being felt and Asian countries will further add to the pressure on more high prices. Considering the critical nature of floods and other disasters. Mr Jagnarine Singh (GM) had joined the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) during the period when the tide turned against the rice industry; basic infrastructure to promote the industry was totally and deliberately neglected.As a result, not only was the rice industry wrecked, the entire economy virtually collapsed.
Immediately after joining the GRDB, Mr. Jagnarine visited all the rice growing regions, had discussions with farmers, millers and all those concerned in the rice industry. He, along with his Extension Manager Kuldip and colleagues, started working on the development of blast resistant lines. Thousands of breeding lines were evaluated at different blast prone areas and hundreds of blast resistant lines were indentified. After conducting on farm evaluations, blast resistant lines were released in 1997.
These varieties not only increased our national average yields, but also saved millions of dollars for the control of blast through fungicides. We hope to touch a national average yield of 45 bags per acre soon. He is a source of inspiration and encouragement to all the staff, particularly those at the Research Station. He believed in team spirit and worked as a team leader. His contribution to rice research and marketing is well appreciated by everyone in the rice industry. He will be remembered for long in the industry.