The Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) has expended the sum of $2.6 million to tackle the ongoing paddy bug infestation which has been creating havoc in several rice cultivating regions.
Spraying in Region Two
“After receiving reports of paddy bug infestation in several of our rice-producing regions, I instructed GRDB to come up with a plan of action. The Board has since spent $2.6 million to tackle the issue at hand,” Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha stated.
He explained that his Ministry has established a Paddy Bug Action Unit in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supernaam); Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara); Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica); Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) and Region Six ( East Berbice- Corentyne) which have all been equipped with an officer who will work along with extension officers to monitor the bugs and advise farmers on what actions are to be taken.
Nevertheless, the funds are being used to purchase insecticides, in addition to the cost attached to carry out the actual spraying. GRDB has commenced spraying in all of the rice-producing regions, paying specific attention to reported cases of extreme infestation to prevent the bugs from migrating.
GRDB General Manager, Nizam Hassan noted that it is critical to get the situation under control before the crop reaches its flowering stage.
Spraying at Washington, WCB
“We always try to encourage farmers to take precautions before the crop is at this stage. If high numbers of bugs are left in the cultivation, they tend to multiply rapidly as soon as the rice comes into bearing. The objective of the Action Unit is to step in and kill the bugs before this can take place,” Hassan said.
The issue of the bug infestation was raised by a number of rice farmers along the Essequibo Coast during a visit by the Agriculture Minister.
It was during that meeting that the Minister instructed Hassan to look into the situation and prepare a detailed report with measures to assist farmers. Rice farmers have complained that the bugs have been swarming in abandoned fields, waiting to destroy the present rice crop.
It was reported that close to 33,000 acres of rice were under threat by the bugs.
Following reports of the infestations, GRDB also issued an advisory to guide farmers on ways they can control and minimise the chances of the bugs destroying their crops.
