Smoke from burning West Coast rice fields disrupts traffic

Motorists who were disrupted by the smoke from the rice fields. (Photo courtesy of Sahadeo Bates)

Thick smoke blanketed Crane and Harlem, West Coast Demerara on Thursday morning after rice farmers lit fires in their fields, resulting in a disruption of traffic for over one hour, while firefighters battled to put out the fires.

The burning of the rice straw and stubble that remain in the fields after harvest is one of the most efficient, effective,