October 15, 2024
The Ministry of Agriculture, under the leadership of Minister Zulfikar Mustapha, launched a new high-yielding rice variety, GRDB-18, which is expected to boost Guyana’s food security and improve the country’s agricultural output.
The launch took place at a rice field in Nooten Zuil, East Coast Demerara, where the variety was trialed on a 4.5-acre farm.
The GRDB-18 variety has been designed to withstand harsh environmental conditions, including waterlogging, and can be harvested late by up to 15 days without compromising the quality of the grain.
This resilience, along with its superior grain quality, positions the variety to compete effectively in both local and international markets.
Minister Mustapha highlighted the potential of the new variety to help expand Guyana’s rice exports to over 50 countries, aligning with the government’s commitment to food security through innovation, research, and technology.
He also challenged the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) to develop another high-yielding variety by November 2025.
Chief Scientist at the GRDB, Mahendra Persaud, shared that the GRDB-18 underwent 120 trials, yielding an average of 7.2 tons per hectare (approximately 45 bags per acre), demonstrating its strong potential.
The rice industry in Guyana, valued at over 100 billion dollars, is expected to continue growing with ongoing investments in research and technology.
This growth supports President Irfaan Ali’s vision of producing one million metric tons of rice by 2030.