The Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) officially launched a new high-yielding rice variety, ‘GRDB 18,’ on Monday. The launch event took place at a rice field in Nooten Zuil, East Coast Demerara, where farmer A. Sabastian, who owns 4.5 acres of land, conducted trials with the new variety.
Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha, along with Director General of the Ministry of Agriculture, Madanlall Ramraj, and GRDB Chief Scientist Mahendra Persaud, were present at the launch to inspect the harvest. Minister Mustapha highlighted that the introduction of ‘GRDB 18’ underscores the government’s commitment to modernizing agriculture through innovation and technology.
“This variety is highly tolerant to water lodging, which is essential for maintaining a high-quality harvest. Additionally, it has superior grain quality, allowing us to remain competitive in both local and international markets,” Minister Mustapha stated.
The new ‘GRDB 18’ follows the introduction of ‘GRDB 16’ in 2020, marking the second rice variety launched by the GRDB in the past four years. Minister Mustapha further challenged the GRDB to develop another high-yielding variety by November 2025 that would further enhance rice production and quality.
Director General Madanlall Ramraj emphasized the significance of varietal development for increasing national rice production. He noted that the rice industry is currently valued at $100 billion, with $42 billion worth of seed paddy sold to mills in the last year. Exports alone accounted for $44 billion, with additional income from local sales, irrigation, and machinery.
Chief Scientist, Mahendra Persaud reported that ‘GRDB 18’ has undergone 120 successful trials, with no decline in rice recovery. The variety averages 7.2 tons per hectare, translating to approximately 45 bags per acre. Its resilience, including the ability to withstand late harvesting and harsh conditions such as drought, offers promising benefits for the sector’s long-term sustainability.
