Farming for Development: Rice Cultivation in Guyana

For some time to come the poorer countries of the world will have to rely on agriculture to raise their living standards and supply the capital they need to create industries. Agricultural production must therefore be increased. This requires tractors, fertilizers, new and better seeds, vast irrigation schemes, land reforms.
A variety of the new high-yielding rice grown in Guyana. With help from the Food and Agriculture Organization the Government has carried out research and produced a high-yielding variety of rice. Over a period of four years a total of 1714 rice varieties from 18 different countries were tested. This resulted in the selection of a few crossbred varieties which have yielded, in field demonstrations, 38 bags per acre compared with the national average of 9.6 bags from the same area using the traditional variety of rice. [September, 1970]