Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha has related that the current infestation of paddy bugs on the Corentyne could harm the rice industry, but at the same time is optimistic that rice production for 2024 could increase.
A total of 653,000 tonnes of rice was harvested in 2023 and for 2024, the target is 710,000 tonnes which is an increase of 10 percent.
The effects of El Niño and the infestation of paddy bugs have severely affected the current crop. Despite these challenges, rice production is expected to increase in 2024 as measures are being put in place to address them.
Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha
However, two of the areas more affected by the infestation of the bugs are Crabwood Creek (CWC) and the Central Corentyne, with farmers claiming that the quantity and quality of rice would be severely affected.
As such, Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha related that Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) is currently engaging farmers on the issue intending to eradicate the pest to avoid further destruction.
“Because it is important that we get maximum output this time. I hope the GRDB has been working with you all in this community so that we can tackle this problem. Last week Sunday I had a meeting with all of the extension staff including your staff here in Black Bush and we came up with a number of measures that we will implement to try as much as possible to ease this problem,” Mustapha said while addressing farmers in the Black Bush Polder during a recent outreach.
Apart from the paddy bugs, rice farmers are facing another issue – larvae (worms) have been feeding on the budding rice grains.
Mustapha said systems have been put in place to prevent the spread of the larvae.
“I am hoping that some of the systems that we have put in place are working. We have to continue to pay attention to this important issue or else the quality of the production that we want will not be there.”
While expressing optimism, Mustapha noted that it was not only the Corentyne which is being affected.
“We are getting problems not only in Berbice but across the country with the paddy bug and the ‘curl leaf worm’ but the GRDB is working with the farmers to eradicate it. I am very optimistic that we will be successful; it is only a matter of time. We have had this crisis before and we worked with the farmers to get it done.”
Good yield
Despite the paddy bug infestation currently affecting many Corentyne rice farmers, they are reporting an excellent yield thus far.
Currently, harvesting of the spring crop is taking place across Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne); East Bank Berbice, Corentyne front lands, Crabwood Creek and Black Bush Polder (BBP).
As of Wednesday, 17,218 acres of rice have been harvested for the current crop with farmers reporting an average of 49 bags per acre. This is according to Region Six Chairman David Armogan.
Armogan noted that the Agriculture Ministry has engaged scientists and others with knowledge of paddy bugs to develop a strategy to control the current paddy bug infestation.
“It is not localised to Berbice and Region Six but it is right across the country. The minister of agriculture has assured farmers that the Ministry is working full time to ensure that they can control the paddy bug situation.”
Speaking at the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) stationary meeting on Thursday, he pointed out that the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) did not utilize funds to repair access dams for farmers to get to bring their paddy out of the fields. This he said is so because of the current extremely dry conditions.
However, he noted that because of the weather conditions, there has been heavy siltation with canals in the cultivation areas.
“If you drive around you would see that virtually all of the canals and outfalls are blocked up and if the rains come down suddenly on us, we might find ourselves in some difficulty because then we might have hurriedly had to clean all of the outfalls so that we can have proper drainage.”
Armogan explained that this frequently takes place during prolonged dry spells. He pointed out that they would have to wait on the rains before they could commence the clearing of outfalls.
“If you dig now, two weeks after you would get back the same siltation; you can’t be digging every two weeks,” he pointed out.
In delivering a regional agriculture report to the RDC, the Chairman said there continues to be the conflict between rice and cattle farmers where rice farmers have been accusing cattle farmers of allowing their animals to feed in rice fields.
He said there have also been large numbers of cattle on the region’s roadways.
“The cattle are suffering because grazing has become a big problem,” he said while noting the difficulty in animals finding grass to eat. The Ministry has been giving molasses to cattle farmers. From the Albion Estate, they are giving each farmer five gallons; which is inadequate, and they are also doing bailing of grass. So, once they bail the grass, they are also distributing it to the cattle farmers,” Armogan pointed out.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Agriculture said that the Leaf Folder is an emerging insect pest of rice in Guyana.
In advising farmers, the Ministry said that to detect these pests, farmers should look for white leaves or leaf tips; one larva (worm) in the folded leaf; or frass (dung) left by the larva; leaves folded upwards, and margins stitched together.
According to the Ministry, plants would become stunted and the vegetative growth stage would be prolonged.
To control this pest, the Ministry is advising, “Only a systemic insecticide will be effective against the Leaf Folder, such as: Triazophos 50mls/blower, Fipronil SC @ 20mls/blower Medal 50g/blower Matador @ 50mls/blower, Undersiege (Thiamethoxam+ Lambda-Cyhalothrin) @ 50mls/blower. Only spray on the leaves of the plant (do not drop these insecticides directly in the water in the rice fields). The larva will die 3 to 5 days after spraying. New leaves will be undamaged.” (G4)
