Rice industry heading for new heights Rice has become one of the star performers in the agriculture sector with successive record breaking production, since 2008. This industry, which is projected to reach 500,000 tonnes by year-end, however has had a very modest beginning. That the industry is flourishing today, is largely due to improved farming techniques, better seed varieties, and interventions by the Administration, which have lead to improved yield per hectare and more land being brought under cultivation. Humble beginnings Rice cultivation in Guyana is over one hundred years old. In the very early days, the crop was planted mainly to complement the diet of the slaves. Not long after, some of the African slaves began cultivating small plots in their farming areas on the plantations. General Manager of the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) Jagnarine Singh said that rice production in a consequential way started in the early 1900s, propelled by the indentured immigrants, who came to Guyana, with knowledge of rice planting and of the culture of the crop. They qualified that the first rice export from this country was in 1903 and that by 1908, the country had become a net exporter of rice. Growth in rice export in the early 1900s is credited to the First World War, but following that, exports declined and production did not rise again until the Second World War in 1936. The early days of rice production in Guyana were characterised by instability, lack of organisation and economic pricing. “During that period, we had a lot of people buying and selling rice, but we had lots of problems with pricing, the actual price received for the rice was not passed on to the producers,” Singh said. To stop this exploitation, the then British Government established the British Guiana Rice Marketing Board (BGRMB) which purchased all the country’s milled rice directly from the producers and this served to stabilise prices through Government control of the prices paid to the producers and charged to the consumers. The rice was sold to the British Islands in the Caribbean (the West Indies Federation) but the industry remained unstable, even after Guyana gained independence in 1966. Post- Independence production There were lots of changes in the sector after the country gained independence from the British. Among those were structural adjustments, which the then Government, the People’s National Congress said were aimed at rehabilitating and modernising the industry. It took control of all the rice mills in the country and the British Guiana Rice Marketing Board. Over the years the board was changed to the British Guyana Rice Board and then to the Guyana Rice Board (GRB). Then in 1985, the decision was taken to split this board into four entities – the National Paddy and Rice Grading Center (NPRGC), with authority over paddy and rice grading, the Guyana Rice Export Board (GREB), which had responsibility for exports, and the Guyana Rice Marketing and Milling Authority (GRMMA), which owned all the rice mills and wharf facilities. Research was given to National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI.) Singh said that despite all these efforts, by 1990, Guyana had the lowest rice production. The country’s total rice production was exactly 93,444 tonnes and export for that year was 50, 000 tonnes. This was because farmers were not getting input on a timely basis and there weren’t adequate enabling mechanisms for growing rice, including drainage and irrigation interventions. Singh said the there was little effort in this regard, in most parts of the country, and in fact maintenance of infrastructure was neglected. There were also issues with the price paid to farmers. This was significantly reduced and there was a period where there were protests for support with bags and twines, at the main rice locations. In the end, farmers started to leave the rice cultivation in the hundreds, many sold their land and migrated, whilst others began cultivating other crops. Renewed interest in rice Following the change in Government in 1992, when the PPPC came into office, there were significant investments made in the industry. Huge sums were spent on drainage and irrigation (D & I), as the new government implemented an aggressive plan for upgrading and rehabilitating structures countrywide. Whilst Government was spending a lot of money in D&I, it was also looking at research programmes. The assistance of Indian scientists was procured in developing new rice varieties, with greater yield. The Government merged the four entities into the GRDB which has worked and implemented programmes that have supported and guided successful farmers in the application of new technology. Being able to secure new markets with better prices also boosted production and by 1994-1995, the growth of the industry went upwards. Production was recorded at 365,469 metric tonnes in 1999, 361,527 metric tonnes, in 2010, 402,000 tonnes in 2011 and 422,000 tonnes for 2012. Region Five continues to be the leading region in production, followed by Regions 6, 2, 3 and 4. Exports Prior to 2010, Europe was the largest importer of Guyana’s rice but by 2012, following an agreement between Former President of Guyana Bharrat Jagdeo and Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, 66 percent of Guyana’s rice paddy goes to Venezuela. The pull factor is that Venezuela is buying the rice at better prices. For 2013, Guyana will supply 210,000 tonnes of rice and paddy to Venezuela under an agreement sealed in May. Guyana though continues to satisfy its traditional market to Europe and Caricom, of which Jamaica is the main market. The country also continues to send small amounts of rice to Trinidad and Tobago, some to Latin America including Panama and Portugal, and is currently examining exporting more to Panama, Dominica and Haiti. Guyana exported about 330,000 tonnes of rice in 2011 and, in 2012, 350,000 tonnes. Moving forward The country is at present exploring production of rice varieties that will create more value added opportunities for Guyana’s rice farmers and open more lucrative niche markets. In 2012, Guyana introduced its first crop of aromatic rice developed at the rice research centre. Once established on the Guyana market, the aim is to pursue exports of this aromatic brand as a niche product in the Caribbean and European markets. At present also a salt-resistant variety is being developed and an upland rice variety is being produced at Santa Fe, Region Nine that is intended to satisfy the local Region 9 market, that should cause rice prices to drop in that region since rice will no longer have to be transported from the coastland. In addition, this rice will also be exported to Brazil. While farmers in some areas have been affected by the paddy bug, the Agriculture Ministry has been making timely interventions to assist them to address the infestation. Recently it rolled out a $25M plan to help affected farmers. Projection Since 2008, rice production has been on the rise with every year having been another record year. The first rice crop for 2013 has officially ended with a record yield of 263,528 metric tonnes of rice from a total of 405,428 metric tonnes of paddy, significantly surpassing the target of 206,000 tonnes that was expected. If this trend continues, then Guyana is headed for a million tonnes by 2015, the researchers at the GRDB have predicted. Posted by: Ministry of Agriculture // News // August 28, 2013 Post navigation← More bio-energy initiatives for Guyana Search Recent Posts Rice industry heading for new heights More bio-energy initiatives for Guyana Guyana on path to agro fuel revolution – as President commissions bioethanol demonstration plant G GRDB introduces $25M programme to address paddy bug infestation Rice standard must be maintained in face of competition – Agriculture Minister – as GRDB’s central laboratory re-certified Archives August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 April 2013 Categories News Press Releases
Posted on: Wed, 28 Aug 2013 17:09:03 +0000