GRDB debunks reports of water weevil outbreak

Mar 10, 2018 News

GRDB has debunked as false rumors that rice production has been affected by the water weevil

The Guyana Rice Development Board, GRDB, dispatched a team of officers headed by Entomologist Dr. Viviane Baharally, of the Rice Research Station at Burma, Mahaicony, to investigate reports of “worms” that have infected the roots of rice plants in some villages on the Corentyne Coast.
In early February, a few farmers of the No. 63-68 villages, Corentyne, reported the presence of flies. The flies were identified as plant hoppers by the Board’s Entomologist. Plant hoppers are a known pest of rice that can be treated thereafter allowing the plant to grow healthily.
According to GRDB, advice regarding the control methods which include the use of insecticides were given to farmers during the visit last month.
The follow-up visit by the Entomologist revealed that farmers who heeded the advice given to them over the past month have received relief and the plants are growing normally.
“GRDB continues to monitor the situation. There is no cause for alarm.”
The visit also revealed that there is no outbreak of the worm (associated with the water weevil) as reported.
“The stated outbreak was only found in one farmer’s field in the area. The news of several farmers being affected is erroneous and seems to be targeted to set off an alarm. Farmers in all rice growing regions of the country are asked to report any issues affecting rice production in their areas to the respective extension officers of the Guyana Rice Development Board.”
Region Six, GRDB said, is expecting a bumper harvest for the first crop 2018 with some 56,000 acres sown. (DPI)

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