BARRING unforeseen circumstances, rice production for 2012 should exceed last year’s record- breaking production of more than 400,000 tonnes. So advised General Secretary of the Guyana Rice Producers Association (GRPA), Mr. Dharamkumar Seeraj, during a telephone interview with the Guyana Chronicle yesterday.

Agriculture Minister, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy had previously stated that last year’s rice production was the first time ever that local production had exceeded 400,000 tonnes.
Harvesting has already been completed in Regions 2, 3 and 4, but is still ongoing in Regions 5 and 6, and should be completed by the end of this month, according to Seeraj.
Exports also are going according to schedule, with Venezuela currently being Guyana’s largest importer of rice and paddy, Seeraj disclosed; but he noted that rice is also exported to Europe and other Caribbean countries.
Seeraj further revealed that the first crop of 2013 is likely to be one of the largest. The land is currently being prepared for that crop, but the industry expects to encounter a problem dealing with irrigation issues. Seeraj explained that rice generally does best in dry weather, providing that irrigation water is available.
He advised that the pump stations in rice growing areas, particularly in Region 6 (East Berbice/Corentyne), will provide irrigation water to farmers, while other areas will be supplied from the conservancies.
Seeraj pointed out that while the conservancy at Boeraserie in Region 3 (West Demerara/Essequibo Island) has a fair amount of water, the level in the East Demerara Water Conservancy (EDWC) is currently very low; but rainfall is expected by the second week in December, and that will provide some replenishment.
In the meanwhile, he said, the GRPA is having discussions with farmers around the country on how they can properly manage their water resources.