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friday, june 21, 2013 | guyanatimesGY.com
Harvesting begins Fire destroys two Durban Street restaurants at Santa Fe
– scope of operations to be expanded
An Agriculture Ministry team inspects the Santa Fe fields
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visiting team of officials from the Agriculture Ministry was impressed by progress at the Santa Fe mega farm which has begun harvesting paddy. National Agriculture Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) Director Dr Oudho Homenauth and General Manager (GM) of the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) Jagnarine Singh and other officials visited the farm on Tuesday. The first bumper crop of dry land rice will be processed at the nearby mill, which was set up for this purpose. The aim of this most recent visit by the ministry was to allow the agriculture experts to learn about the techniques being employed to ensure the farm is successful. Although the farm’s upland rice cultivation is a first-time venture on such a scale in Guyana, neighbouring Brazil, on similar soil, has been able to enjoy 25 years of success with this type of cultivation. The Santa Fe group modelled its cultivation on Brazil’s experience, and is in fact utilising a Brazilian expert to guide the process. For the Santa Fe project, which has been taken on by the Simpson family of Barbados, the first crop now being harvested is the AR Irja 424 variety which was tried and tested in Brazil. Given the soil type, planting this variety calls for greater fertiliser application which means using three times the fertiliser regimen that is used on the coastland. The crop also utilises a greater use of pesticide. But prior to application of chemicals, mapping of the area was conducted along with steady soil testing, to guide planting as well as the application of fertilisers and pesticides. The hilly slope of the planting area made it crucial to map the topography to create terraced fields which would allow for easier irrigation. This method allows the collected water to flow from the highest step to the lowest level of the cul-
Supreme Food Court and the Chinese restaurant at Camp and Durban streets were destroyed by fire
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The rice mill at Santa Fe, Region Nine
tivation. A water lifting irrigation system is used to convey water directly from the Ireng River to the fields with levees built around and through the fields to contain the water at the best depth for the crop.
Upland rice strains
Upland rice strains have shorter growth cycles, as they grow in just over 105 days but produce 20-30 per cent less yield than what is achieved on the coast. Of the 100 acres harvested thus far at Santa Fe, the farm has achieved nine tonnes of wet paddy per acre. This translates to about seven tonnes of dry paddy per acre, similar to what is being achieved on the coast. Given the short growing season associated in upland rice cultivation, the rice can be planned around the rainy season in the region. There is also scope for the cultivation of other crops in the intermediate. The farm is also exploring cultivation of some fruits and vegetables, as the aim is to create a large-scale multi-farm. At present, all crops including rice, are being done on a very small scale, but the expectation is to increase production over time, even as plans are in place to introduce new cultivation to the farm.
Endless possibilities
The next rice crop is expected to see about 1000 acres of rice cultivated, 980 acres more than what was planted in this first crop. During the next rainy sea-
son, the farm will venture into soya bean cultivation. Also on the agenda is the rearing of beef and dairy animals on 30 acres of the farmland. There is optimism that this venture will be successful, as the possibilities are endless. Region Nine will now be in the position to produce rice and vegetables in quantities to feed itself and to export to markets in neighbouring Brazil. Brazil’s rice production has decreased, as its oil industry lures workers away from the fields. Should the profits from this venture outweigh the costs, it would open up opportunities for the utilisation of the vast acreage of virgin farmlands in the Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo region in Guyana for dry land rice cultivation. It is hoped that the success of the Santa Fe venture will serve as an incentive not only for government, but also the largescale private rice producers to tap into this venture. Given the promise this enterprise holds for Guyana, government through the Agriculture Ministry has not only been loud in its support of the Santa Fe project, but closely monitors its progress. In March, Agriculture Minister Dr Leslie Ramsammy led a team to the farm, where they met the workers and saw 120 acres of upland rice already cultivated. Construction of a mill was also underway. (GINA)
ire of unknown origin destroyed two restaurants on Durban Street in the wee hours of Thursday. Guyana Fire Service Chief Marlon Gentle said investigators are still to come up with a reason behind the early morning blaze. The fire completely destroyed the Supreme Food Court and a Chinese restaurant at Camp and Durban streets, Georgetown. Part owner of one of the buildings, Johnny Singh said his brother had rented part of the family property to a Chinese businessman and it was believed that the fire may have started in his restaurant. “… a taxi driver called me and said that my building on fire and I asked him two questions, first I said: ‘How far gone is it?’ and he said ‘about 90 per cent burnt’ and then I asked who was on the scene and he said the fire service was there attending to the fire; at that time I didn’t bother to come to the scene,” he related.
The inside of the burnt Chinese resturant
Singh could not say where the Chinese family was, but maintained that the answer lies with them. He estimated there have been millions of dollars in losses. “I suggest that we get hold of the man that occupied this part where the fire is said to have started and ask him what really transpired, he operated his business here last night up to 10 or 11 and the fire started just after one,” Singh said. He added that plans
were in the pipeline to reopen his nut shop, a business that had been around for more than 50 years. When Guyana Times contacted Gentle via phone, he said firemen were still on the ground and the investigation was in progress. The Fire Service might have an idea of what caused the fire, but he could not disclose this until it was confirmed, he said. Gentle related that a full report will be available to the media tomorrow on the cause of the fire.
CIOG condemns attorney’s request for woman to remove hijab
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he Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana (CIOG) has condemned the request by prominent attorney Hukumchand Parag, for a Muslim woman to remove her hijab (a veil worn by Muslim women which covers their face that show only the eyes) during crossexamination in court. In a statement, CIOG explained that the hijab is a customary garment worn by Muslim women as a means of protection and modesty, which is an act of obedience to God. The organisation reflected on the Constitution of Guyana, which states that every Guyanese has a right
to practise a religion of their choice, noting that the attorney’s call is a clear violation of that fundamental right and is also an insult to the Muslim community. “We call on all rightthinking human beings to support this sister on her stance to be cross-examined with her garment on,” said CIOG. The woman in question is Khairoon Ali, whose husband was brutally attacked by two ferocious pitbull dogs in February last year on his way to the masjid. Sixty-four-year-old Mobarak Ali’s left hand was mauled when the dogs attacked him; however, his cries for help brought out
his neighbours who prevented the animals from severing his hand. The owner of the dogs, Alexei Prashad, 37, of Lot 49 Railway Line, Kitty, was subsequently charged for allowing his pit bulls to be at large. The trial is currently being heard before Magistrate Geeta Chandan-Edmond, who had confirmed after seeing the woman’s face in her chambers ,along with another female, that she is the same person pictured in her ID and passport. The matter will be called again on Monday, when the magistrate is expected to deliver a decision as to how to proceed with the matter.