| BENGAL FARM, CORENTYNE – Some 50 percent of the second rice crop in East Berbice/Corentyne is almost ready for early harvesting.The change in weather last week is favourable to farmers and should the sunshine continue the crop can be sown next week. The past week of sunshine left many dams partially dry and should the same weather pattern prevail land preparation is expected to commence for the first crop in 2011 shortly after.Already two farmers in Crabwood Creek and Number Sixty-nine Village already began harvesting last week. President of the Guyana Rice Producers’ Association Leeka Rambrich said the quality of grain is satisfactory so far since there was minimal damage by paddy bug and red rice infestation.He is appealing to farmers to ensure that sowing is done in blocks and on time. In this way, higher yields, a better quality crop and a lower cost of production can be had. Though a lower yield is generally expected in Region Six,Cheap Jerseys, he is predicting a good crop in terms of quality as it relates to the amount of red rice and paddy bug damage. The first crop produced yields of 32 bags per acre in Region Six. So far, it is estimated that this crop may be reduced to 28 bags per acre.Mr. Rambrich reiterated his call for farmers to do voluntary preparation for harvesting and to finds ways to track the excess water off the dams. Recently he expressed concern since the dams leading to rice fields across Guyana were in bad shape and access to farms was impossible.The target set for this crop was 48,Cheap World Cup Jerseys 2018,000 and 47,005 acres have been sown across Region Six. Of this,Cheap Jerseys, the four schemes comprising Black Bush Polder planted 18,000 acres and the remainder from the front lands (areas from Crabwood Creek to New Forest along with East and West Canje, the East Bank of Berbice and New Amsterdam).Some farmers are engaging in an unwanted new trend which is shifting the traditional time for sowing the crops. The stipulated preparation period for this autumn crop was between mid-May and June 30th but there are some farmers, within the Manchester/Liverpool and Bengal areas, still sowing despite the advice from the Guyana Rice Producers’ Association and Guyana Rice Development Board. Though no legal action can be taken,China Jerseys Authentic, he said these farmers ought to be more considerate and should skip the particular crop.This practice is now impacting on others and is helping to create breeding grounds for pests. Mr. Rambrich noted that the period identified ensures that the plants flower during the maximum sunlight period each year thus producing more filled grains and higher yields.By planting outside of the fixed period for each crop the farmers create the type of environment suitable for the breeding of pests and also make it possible for the pests to migrate to better feeding ground since the plants are in different stages of maturity. Many rice farmers claim that their main reason for late preparation is because millers do not pay them on time.Meanwhile, farmers should also continue to monitor their fields for the presence of paddy bugs. According to Mr. Rambrich, if farmers had followed the advice given to commence spraying early this crop then losses should be minimal. Given that the paddy bug pest is present in every crop they were also encouraged to use sweep nets.These gadgets are used to determine the amount of paddy bugs present and give an indication if there is need for spraying. Spraying becomes necessary whenever there are two or more bugs present per seed. Each farmer should do at least 50 sweeps per rice field each crop. A paddy bug can suck ten grains per day,Wholesale Jerseys Free Shipping, it does not have to suck the entire grain, but, only pierce it and damage is done. It is not easy to predict how much destruction one bug can cause,Authentic Jerseys Wholesale, hence farmers must use preventative methods at all times.He noted that fewer farmers are now making use of the farmers’ schools and this is not good for the industry as a whole. This gathering is said to be a knowledge pool where farmers share their experience and practices with each other and several benefits can be derived.Officers from the Guyana Rice Producers’ Association and Guyana Rice Development Board as well as research scientists are also a part of the sessions to deal with problems facing the farmers. These sessions are held throughout Guyana in all rice growing regions on a weekly basis free of cost. |
