The recent hightide-induced flooding in rice farming areas in Region Five (Mahaica/Berbice), will not severely affect the rice production target for this year, says Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) General Manager (GM), Nizam Hassan.
He made this disclosure at a time when the region and several other areas along the coast are still reeling from the event, which resulted in overtopping and penetration of sea defence structures. Video footage and pictures earlier this week showed several areas of the coast inundated. The water has now begun to recede in several areas along the coastline.
Region Five was hit hard by violent waves that left at least three breaches along its northern sea defence system, which are currently being addressed by the authorities.
This publication understands that the Board had initially aimed for 85,000 hectares to be sown for the second crop, now in effect. However, that figure was revised to 90,000 hectares (222,394 acres) after some new lands were brought into cultivation. Some 40,914 hectares, or 101,100 acres, were sown in Region Five alone.
Hassan noted that of that number, an estimated 1000 acres of that overall acreage of 222,394, were affected by the flooding.
He added that even though this occurred, some farmers were still able to salvage some of their crops prior to, and after the two spring tides. He noted too, that the first spring tide at the beginning of October, would have coincided with harvesting in some areas.
“In the 1000 acres of land that would not be able for use, some of that was harvested already prior to the first inundation of salt water. After that occurrence, some farmers still tried to get to harvest but obviously they didn’t get everything out,” he said.
The presence of saltwater on the land, also made it difficult for farmers to deploy their combine harvesters and other machines, since the possibility of salt-induced rust was too great. He explained that when iron is exposed to salt, it tends to rust more quickly, as a result of electrochemical reactions.
The total projected target for this year is almost one million tonnes of paddy, as 522,255 tonnes was the target for the first crop.
Guyana in 2018 produced 627,105 metric tonnes of rice and exported 75% of this amount, 470,313 metric tonnes, amounting to US$186M in exports. At August 2019, Guyana would have exported rice commodities to the value of US$148M. More so, Guyana exported approximately 14 types of rice and rice by-products.
