Ninety-five percent of the current rice crop has been harvested so far while sowing for the next crop has already started, the Ministry of Agriculture says.
A press release from the ministry said that the Guyana Rice Development Board supplied the information and noted that in the last crop, 61,765 hectares (152,559 acres) of rice were sown and in excess of 58,913 hectares (145,515 acres) have been harvested to date.

The release also noted that sowing has also commenced for the next crop with eighty five percent of the land in an advanced stage of land preparation for sowing. “The Ministry of Agriculture would like to advise farmers to maximize available opportunity days to harvest and enhance land preparation and sowing for the next crop”, the release stated.

It pointed out that the Hydrometeorological Service has advised that there are reasonably high probabilities of above average rainfall in Guyana during the upcoming rainy season noting that it is very likely that high intensity rainfall and extreme rainfall could occur during this period.

The ministry urged farmers to expedite their activities and avoid the anticipated heavy rains and take necessary precautions to safeguard their crop. Farmers desirous of possible assistance and guidance can contact the Agriculture Ministry.

Meanwhile, the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority will continue to monitor all drainage and irrigation structures and pumps across the country to ensure they are functioning efficiently, the release stated.