Rice output down this year compared to 2020

Lekha Rambrich

Intensive rainfall earlier this year coupled with an infestation of paddy bugs have negatively impacted this year’s rice production as farmers across the country were forced to cut back on the acreage they cultivated.

For the year, paddy production when compared to last year dipped by 198,119 tonnes. In 2021 paddy production stood at 859,452 tonnes as of the middle of this month – a decline from 1,057,571 tonnes in 2020.

To date Guyana has exported some 412,810 tonnes, raking in US$189,232,690 as compared to 549,066 tonnes of rice bringing in US$225,772,431 in 2020.