Rice farmers alerted to peak sowing period

The Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) has announced the ideal sowing period for the second crop of 2024. Farmers are advised to sow their seed paddy during the proposed time to benefit from high yields because of the current weather condition.

According to the advertisement in the Sunday edition of the Guyana Chronicle, the proposed sowing period is from May 15th to June 30th. The GRDB stated that research has shown that when sowing is done during this period it allows for the rice plant to flower during the period of high light intensity, thus higher yields are obtained.

The current weather condition allows for the plant to flower during August and September where the light intensity is normally at its peak. Additionally, the synchronization of sowing thereby encourages block planting. This will result in better water management and consequently conservation of water, nutrition of rice plants, pest control and preservation of access dams, among other things, the GRDB said.

Further, farmers were advised to source clean seed paddy that is free from red rice and other weeds. Contact can be made with the GRDB’s Extension Officers for certified seed paddy from the Rice Research Station, Burma.

The GRDB pinpointed that each region has its own unique circumstances that determine the availability and supply of water. Nevertheless, farmers should be allowed to have timely access to water to achieve maximum productivity.