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Guyana’s rice industry disorganised, yields far too low
Dr Edward Pulver Project Coordinator FLAR
(By: Brushell Blackman)
The Project Coordinator for the Latin American Fund for Irrigated Rice (FLAR) Dr Edward Pulver has raised serious doubts about the nature of research work in the rice industry.
The FLAR scientist branded the research efforts here as poor. Pulver was at the time speaking at a handing over ceremony of a tractor and a Laser Land Leveller at the Burma Rice Research Station at Mahaicony.
He said that because research and extension are divorced, the quality of the research programme has not been as effective as it should have been.
He said that Guyana has one of the most organised extension programmes in Latin America but it has the lowest yields in the same block.
It is disappointing that the organised state of extension has not translated into higher yields, Pulver said.
He added that it will be unprofitable to plant rice if 30 bags per acre were all that can be garnered at harvesting. He said this is what is contributing to low rice price since the country cannot be a major force, competing with the larger rice producing countries.
Pulver said that for over half of a century Guyana has been depending on the Rustic rice variety that has not broken the 40 bags per acre mark.
The scientist called for varieties that will increase yield significantly and those that are adaptive to varying conditions.
The scientist opined that having the same varieties for both harvesting season is not the way to go.
It is to this end that the Guyana Government sought Pulver’s expertise as a consultant to work towards increasing productivity and efficiency within the sector.
He believes that rice yield can increase by 50 percent in the next two years if systems and programmes are instituted to bring about a shift in the industry. He is currently working with extension officers and researchers of the Guyana Rice Development Board to realise these goals.
Pulver believes that the resources are there but that they are not organised thus the inability of the rice industry to break unchartered production barriers.
The consultant is calling on farmers to embrace change and cutting edge technology. He believes that farmers have a role to play in the improvement of yields and the industry in general.
Pulver said that many times when field schools are organised farmers stay away thereby robbing themselves of information that will make them better farmers and to cultivate better farming habits. Pulver said for too long Guyana has been isolated in the field of training. He said although the country is affiliated to FLAR there is need for more collaborative work and training with Latin America.
He said that part of the world has some of the best facilities and practices in relation to rice cultivation.
He proposed that more persons be trained in Latin America to bring about a paradigm shift.
According to him the days of depending on preferential markets are over. The business of rice has become very competitive over the years.
Of recent, the rice industry has been experiencing serious issues with farmers not receiving liveable prices for their paddy.
The government has been forced to intervene to assist in solving the many problems affecting the industry.
President Bharrat Jagdeo subsequently announced a $400M intervention to assist the ailing sector. However, farmers will not be seeing any of the cash from this assistance.
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