The role of the extension services of the Guyana Rice Development Board is focused in four thematic areas:

1. Marketing Seed Paddy
2. Technology Transfer
3. Data Collection
4. Special/Supporting Activities

Seed Production and Marketing

Marketing of seed produced at Burma Rice Research Station

Seeds produced by the Burma Rice Research Station and approved for sale are distributed by the Extension division to targeted farmers and contract growers in the various rice growing regions.

Monitoring the performance of Burma Rice Research Station Seed Padi

The division routinely makes checks on fields sown with seeds purchased from the Burma Rice Research Station to ascertain performance in terms of germination and establishment during the early stages of growth.

Monitoring of Seed Fields at Burma Rice Research Station

At the Research station seed fields inspected during the various growth stages of the crop. Based on the findings the necessary corrective actions were taken to bring the fields in conformity with the production of the specified class of seed.

Monitoring/Certification of farmers seed production

Fields grown with seeds supplied by the research station are routinely inspected so as to ensure that the intended class of seed is produced after multiplication.

Technology Transfer

Developing Competency of extension staff

Extension Officers were continuously exposed to training that were relevant and impact positively in the execution of their duties. These include management of pesticides, extension education and post harvest management of padi, HIV/AIDS and agronomy of rice.

Technology Transfer

Empowerment of farmer on the benefits of improved technologies is the main focus of the extension department. Focus groups in the form of Farmers’ Field Schools continued to be the main strategy to train farmers. As part of the training programme, other activities are held which complimented the formal Farmers’ Field School sessions. These include end of season reviews and field days / exchange visits.

Brochures covering various aspects of rice production are distributed to farmers at technical sessions. See copies of these and other brochures here

Data Collection

This is done in order to inform the management of GRDB, policy makers and other stakeholders in the rice industry on the status of the industry, in various areas of production. Data collected included those on crop production namely; harvesting, sowing, pest and disease levels, drainage and irrigation status, fertilizer use and costs, prices for seed padi.

A database comprising of all farmers and their respective acreage sown is a fundamental aspect of our data collection exercise.

Special Activities

These are unplanned activities that the division is called upon to perform from time to time. They are of a complimentary nature and supports regular extension activities.  It includes activities such as exhibitions eg, Essequibo and Berbice nights, investigations in the areas of damages to structures, flooding, and blocked kokers, breaches of sea defence, pest / disease outbreaks, and farmers meetings.  Surveys into acreage lost as a result of drought or floods has also become part of extension work.