The Guyana Rice Development Board, has announced that it has dispatched a team of Extension Officers to investigate reports of “worms” that have infected the roots of rice plants in some villages on the Corentyne Coast.
The investigative team is being headed by Entomologist Dr. Vivien Baharally.
Farmers of the No. 63-68 villages, Corentyne, have been reporting on an apparent invasion of the plant hopper, which is a known pest of rice.
The invasion started last month. Farmers were initially advised on methods of control, but now farmers in other areas are reporting an invasion of worms that have not yet been verified.
The farmers are claiming that the worms have affected the yields of rice ready for harvest.
The Rice Board’s Extension officers have verified the presence of the Plant Hoppers in the 63-68 areas, and in this regard recommended measures of control using systemic insecticides.
Farmers are being advised to rotate the use of insecticides if more than one application is required. Farmers may also contact the respective extension officers for advice on issues of control of the plant hopper.
According to the GRDB, over the next few days, its Entomologist and extension team will be investigating the reported sightings of the worms in farmer’s field with a view to identifying and recommending methods of control.
Farmers in all rice growing regions of the country are asked to report any issues affecting rice production in their areas to the respective extension officers of the Guyana Rice Development board.
Region six is expecting a bumper harvest for the first crop 2018 with some 56,000 acres sown.
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