"Some of the difficulties in the rice industry have to do with the weather pattern in Guyana, but I think we need to go back a little and look the fact, when there was a change in Government in 1992, what was taken over in terms of the rice industry, was an industry in total neglect", he said in an interview.

He added, "What we had since 1992 is an effort of rehabilitating and bringing the rice industry to a point of performing for the economy in a very positive way".

He noted that up to 1992 only 191,000 tonnes of rice were being produced per year. At the end of 2001 production was 307,000 tonnes.

Chandarpal explained that there are a few things which affect the rice industry from a number of different directions.

These factors include some financial difficulties, yields and drainage and irrigation.

The minister pointed out that there have been increases in yields where farmers were reaping about 25 bags of paddy per acre in recent years compared to 19 bags per acre in 1992.

"The major problem that has existed was that in 1992 lots of land were not under cultivation because of the fact that the necessary drainage and irrigation, which is important, was not in place", Chandarpal contended.

He also pointed out that under the People's National Congress Administration, G$5M was spent on drainage and irrigation.

He added that in the effort to rehabilitate the rice industry in 1993, the People's Progressive Party/Civic Administration spent $200M on drainage and irrigation.

He noted that the amount spent on drainage and irrigation has been increasing steadily and substantially over the years.

"We need to understand that there are still many parts of the country where total rehabilitation has not yet been carried out so we will have lingering issues related to drainage and irrigation and other aspects of the rice industry", he pointed out.

He emphasised that the drainage and irrigation situation has been brought to a point where the system can deal with normal weather patterns in a reasonable manner, which is to provide irrigation and drainage when the weather pattern is normal.

Chandarpal pointed out that in October last year about 10 per cent of the rice crop was lost because of continuous rainfall for about three days.

He explained that there was accumulated water, which damaged the rice lands, and it was difficult for machinery to get into the fields.

"In April this year when we were supposed to have had a dry period, we had rain that not only damaged parts of that crop but it also made the preparations for this crop very difficult, " the minister observed.

He explained that during the current crop, some areas were not cultivated in Black Bush Polder and West Coast Berbice because these were not properly prepared due to the lateness of the last crop.

"In the light of the international competitiveness that is required, we are looking at introducing new types and generally improving yields and this is one area where we are giving great assistance to farmers by providing the new types of seed paddy and extension services", Chandarpal said.

He added, "We also have our long-term plan which is the strategic plan for the rice industry where efforts are being concentrated on all levels from field preparation to market".

The strategic plan of the rice industry is a 10-year scheme which outlines the aims and objectives of the industry.

The main goal of the plan is to create an integrated and sustainable rice industry that can produce, process and competitively market high quality rice to benefit all Guyanese.