Rice farmers are better off now

Dear Editor,
In response to the good news about rice in Guyana, I feel compelled to make a few points. I think that rice must be contextualised. It is an excellent source of energy, giving carbohydrates, which are used in the body for brain performance, physical activity, bodily functions and everyday growth and repair. Rice is also low in fat and cholesterol free and this alone is enough to drive rice production in Guyana. This indeed has been happening.
In fact, the overall rice production for 2012 amounted to a historic 422,058 tonnes and of that amount, 334,000 tonnes was exported.
The top producer for the period was Region Five, which produced 37 per cent of the total quantity of rice (some 150,000 tonnes). However, there is no place for sitting in complacency. In this vein, it is now good to know that communication is flowing.
As a matter of fact, a little while back, farmers in the various administrative regions were given the opportunity to interact and share their knowledge and experiences with the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) in collaboration with the Rice Producers’ Association (RPA). The occasion was a Farmers’ Field Day at the rice research station in Burma, Region Five. The major focus of that day was on obtaining ‘the best out of the plots’ as the Agriculture Ministry and its various agencies are pushing increased production for rice.
Guyana is employing ‘the six-point practice’ technique in order to maximise on higher paddy yields, and many farmers have already adopted this ploy. The six improved crop management practices are: date of planting, density of plants, treatment of seeds, weed control, fertilisation and water management. For those who are going this route, the better yields have been quite noticeable and many more farmers are embracing it. This is why I urge the Agriculture Ministry to continue these kinds of interactive sessions.
By way of information, the government has invested in seed facilities across the country. The   most recently completed one is at Number 56 Village, Berbice. This facility is expected to generate more than 20,000 bags of seed paddy by the second crop and I surmise that since rice is universally popular, then investments are in order.
There is of course the rice research station that is focusing on developing high-yield varieties, with stable resistance to blast. Efforts are also going towards evolving aromatic and salt tolerant varieties, and to develop a package of practices with respect to weed and water management, seeding density, plant nutrition and other agronomic methods for the release of new varieties and for specific locations. This kind of industriousness is very laudable and must continue.
Yours sincerely,
Jaichand Raghubir