Farmers urged to comply with EU guidelines to protect Guyana’s largest rice export market
The paddy to be exported is loaded onto the ship scale
Rice farmers are advised to protect their rice crop and at the same time, protect the European Union (EU) market by complying with the Maximum Residue Limits (MRL) for various pesticides at different levels set by the EU.
EU is Guyana’s largest export market, with 48 per cent and 46 per cent of Guyana’s rice being sold to the EU in 2021 and 2022, respectively.
The Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) in an advisory stated that one of the major challenges of the rice industry in Guyana is the damage caused by insect pests, especially the Oebalus poecilus (Dallas) commonly known as the ‘Paddy bug’ or ‘stink bug’.
Farmers utilise the spraying of insecticides for the control of these pests, which can result in pesticide residue remaining in the rice grains; however, if present in air, soil and water, it can pose a serious threat to biological diversity and human health.
Recognising the threat posed, the EU has set Maximum Residue Limits (MRL) for the different pesticides at different levels.
As such, the GRDB is advising farmers that it is necessary to protect the major rice market by following the guidelines and implementing the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programme.
Farmers must strictly stick to the recommendations and only apply recommended pesticides following the guidelines provided for the management of the ‘paddy bug’ or ‘stink bug’.
