President of the Guyana Rice Producers Association (RPA) Leeka Rambrich is calling on Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) and the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) to assist with the rehabilitation of access dams in the rice cultivating area.
The state of one of the deplorable access dams
Speaking with this publication on the issue on Wednesday, Rambrich said harvesting has commenced in some parts of the Black Bush Polder and should commence in the front lands in the coming week.
“The dams are all in a deplorable state. The rainy season has just ended and we’re seeing some sunshine now. We are hoping that with the farmers’ help and some assistance from the Regional Administration and the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority, we can get some help to prepare the dams so that farmers will be able to use them for harvesting.”
He said if those dams are not prepared well-timed, it will be impossible for some of the farmers to harvest in a timely manner.
“We might see some losses as a result of the current situation of the dams rice cultivation area. When rice is not harvested in time there is lodging that takes place.”
Lodging is when rice gets ripe and panicles fall. Rambrich said that when this happens, farmers cannot harvest all of their paddies.
The current sunny conditions will result in broken rice if it is not harvested in a timely manner.
“And when you take it to the mill to get graded, there will be a lot of cracked rice. So, that in itself will result in farmers losing. I am appealing to the Regional Administration and to the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority that they need to come forward as early as possible,” the RPA President appealed.
He said he spoke with the Regional Chairman, David Armogan, who informed him that the Tender Board is expected to meet shortly to award tenders to rehabilitate some of the dams in the cultivating area.
“We are hoping that the tender would go out as early as possible so that contractors will be able to start working,” he added.
