Region 6 aiming for 70,000 acres rice this crop – Chairman

…as sugar production falls short of target

Region Six (East-Berbice Corentyne) is agriculture-based with rice production being the mainstay of the economy. However, sugar and vegetable production also play a huge role in the regional economy.
For the next rice crop, which is expected to conclude during the early part of the second quarter, the region is targeting 70,000 acres for rice cultivation.
This is according to Region Six Chairman David Armogan.
Addressing the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) on Thursday, Armogan who heads the Regional Agriculture Committee noted that 65,869 acres have been plowed and 30,000 acres have been sown.
“We are hoping that by the end of the month, most persons who are interested in rice production would have already taken advantage of the weather conditions and would have sowed their paddy,” he noted.
There are still 30,930 acres that have been flooded and waiting to be sown.
However, there are some issues that could hinder irrigation in some of the rice-producing communities.

The main irrigation from Lancaster to Hogstye needs cleaning, Armogan said while noting that there is an intrusion of salt water in some of the drainage canals.
“We have been putting on the pumps from time to time to make sure that we take out the salt water from the system because that is a serious problem that we are facing. In fact, the Calabash pump that would normally supply the East Bank of Berbice cannot operate because of the salinity of the water. The water is very salty, as a result of which we cannot pump the water into that area and so that area is in some amount of trouble with regards to irrigation water. They receive their water from the pump at Calabash Creek.”
The chairman noted that tests are currently being carried out in the Canje River to find out the levels of salt in the water there.
Many of the canals along the East Coast of Berbice are blocked and must be cleaned so that farmers will be able to have water for irrigation purposes in order to sew their paddy.
Along the Upper Corentyne where the 52-63 and 64-74 Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) are, a pump is currently out of order with just two operable.
The pump operator Armogan said left the pump unattended.
“The pump worked for a number of hours and then the generator gave up. He was out sporting and left the pump unattended. We will have to take disciplinary action against the operator.”
However, in the Black Bush Polder there are six pumps currently working Armogan reported to the RDC.
Meanwhile, farmers who cultivate lands that are considered as ‘front lands’ along the Corentyne Coast, have to wait until farmers who cultivate lands in the Black Bush Polder would have irrigated their fields before water becomes available to them.
The regional administration said six pumps have been working to take water from the Canje River which the Black Bush Polder farmers and ‘front land’ farmers use for irrigation purposes.
However, some ‘front land’ farmers say that there is pilfering of fuel and the pumps are turned off at night. The result is that weeks after the pumps were turned on, irrigation water has not reached the ‘front lands’ as yet.
The East Berbice-Corentyne region is known for its fertile lands and favorable climatic conditions that support a diverse range of crops and livestock.
In addition to crop production, Region Six is also home to a growing livestock sector, including cattle, poultry, and small ruminants. The integration of livestock farming with crop production enhances the sustainability of agricultural practices in the area, promoting the use of organic fertilisers and improving soil health. The region’s agricultural output not only meets local consumption needs but also supports export markets, particularly in rice and sugar. Efforts to diversify crops and adopt innovative farming practices are underway, ensuring that East Berbice-Corentyne remains a vital player in Guyana’s agricultural landscape while addressing challenges such as climate change and market fluctuations.
Through the Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA) which is an agency that functions under the Ministry of Agriculture, 608 livestock farmers were visited over the past month and 132 farmers between Number 35 Village and Number 43 Village Corentyne received black giant birds.
Visits were also made to the riverine communities of Siparuta, Orealla, and Baracara by the GLDA.
Twenty-three dairy farmers also received milk management training as the agency seeks to boost milk production.
Nineteen bee hives were removed over the past four weeks within the region. These were removed from occupied dwelling houses, thick vegetation in close proximity to dwelling houses, and abundant areas.
Meanwhile, as it relates to sugar production, 19,333 tonnes of sugar was produced in the region for the current crop.
Rose Hall Estate ended the crop at 7,440 tonnes of the projected target of 12,000 tonnes, while the Albion Estate is expected to meet its target by the end of the month. (G4)