For the first crop of 2024, farmers will have the opportunity to cultivate the G18-113 bio-fortified rice variety which was unveiled during the recently concluded Agri-Investment Forum and Expo. The new rice strain is rich in zinc. It is also said to have high-yielding attributes.
During the launch at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre, Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips, eloquently highlighted the sustainable trajectory of Guyana’s rice sector, lauding its instrumental role in bolstering employment in rural landscapes and amplifying the nation’s agricultural vibrancy and food security efforts. “This rice is a good economic choice for farmers as it possesses excellent early vigour, a good plant type and high yield potential, (68 tonnes per hectare). This will contribute to the economic growth of the country through preferential prices and increased market prices,” he emphatically stated.
The G18-113 rice variety is said to be the fruition of meticulous research and conventional breeding methodologies, eschewing the utilization of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). A bounty of nutritional richness, this rice variety heralds elevated zinc levels, a vital mineral quintessential for the maintenance of cellular and immune system functionalities.
During the event, Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha, accentuated Guyana’s distinguished position as a pioneer, being the solitary country unveiling this remarkable variety across the region and Latin America. “I hope that we can start cultivating this variety on a large-scale basis. And Guyana can start to have rice where we will have this healthy supplement. And we can improve, not only the income of our farmers, but to improve the health of our nation and the Caribbean…so that we can achieve the objective we set,” the minister elucidated with visionary zeal.
Wilmot Garnett, IICA’s Country Representative, resonated with positive echoes from the successful trials, heralding a continuity of support and funding for future endeavors in transformative rice sector projects. “The rice certainly has additional values of elevated levels of zinc. We want to make sure that we receive a premium…But what we are hoping is that a percentage goes to the GRDB for them to continue research,” he articulated.
Navigating the horizons of agricultural excellence, Guyana’s gaze is firmly set towards a bountiful future, anticipating the prolific production of 847,000 metric tonnes of rice by the auspicious year of 2025.
