The Ministry of Agriculture on Tuesday reaffirmed its commitment to meeting with stakeholders in Region Six to discuss solutions to lessen the effects of the dry season on the rice crop.
Following similar meetings held recently in regions two and three, Minister Robert Persaud met with regional authorities and other stakeholders to ensure that limited irrigation resources are distributed equitably and in a way that addresses critical needs.
According to a Government Information Agency (GINA) press release Persaud told farmers that they needed to cooperate with the region and the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) in order to strengthen support for rice farming and agriculture.
The minister said critical areas will first be targeted and interventions will be made equitably and in accordance with the degree of urgency. The fact that more land areas will be opened up will mean the emergence of new challenges. Some systems may need to be amended to meet these emerging demands, he said.
Meanwhile, Chairman of the Region Six Regional Democratic Council (RDC) Zulfikar Mustapha said the RDC, with assistance from the ministry has been rehabilitating a number of irrigation canals. Areas currently under cultivation have been given priority since the aim is to provide farmers with the best conditions to maximise yield. Mustapha pointed out that five excavators are currently operational and several pumps have also been running non-stop to ensure the safety of the crop.
The RDC Chair also said there had been an increase in rice cultivation in the front-lands. While about 6,000 acres were cultivated last crop, 8,000 to 10,000 acres are currently under cultivation. In the light of this it is anticipated that 12,000 to 14,000 acres of land will soon be cultivated.
General Manager of the Guyana Rice Development Board Jagnarine Singh said too there has been a slight increase in the price of rice within the last month. He added that Guyana exports about 75% of the staple and farmers should capitalise on potentially new market access, for example to Haiti. Singh also urged farmers to be prudent in water management.
General Secretary of the Rice Producers’ Association Dharamkumar Seeraj echoed Singh’s assertions, advising all stakeholder groups to collaborate to make rice cultivation a success. He also advised farmers to take advantage of the weekly meetings and expend their energies on cooperation.
GINA said NDIA Chairman Lionel Wordsworth and Senior Engineer with the Agriculture Sector Development Unit, Frederick Flatts also attended the meeting.
