Spraying of farmlands in Region Six is set to commence soon as part of a new initiative to combat the paddy bug infestation affecting rice fields.
Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha announced the intervention, emphasizing the importance of the region to Guyana’s rice industry.
Minister Mustapha revealed that the infestation is currently the primary issue facing farmers in the area.
To address this, the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) will collaborate with local farmers to provide the necessary chemicals and conduct the spraying operations.
This proactive measure aims to safeguard the 68,000 acres of rice under cultivation in the region.
Despite the urgency of the situation, the decision was made to forgo aerial spraying in favor of more targeted methods.
Minister Mustapha explained that this approach would be more effective and safer for the rice crops.
In addition to the spraying campaign, improvements in drainage and irrigation are planned, with several outfalls to be cleared in the region.
These enhancements are expected to provide significant relief to farmers and help boost rice production.
Farmers in Region Six are optimistic that these measures will help them exceed this year’s rice production target of 710,000 tonnes, compared to 653,000 tonnes achieved last year.