$300,000 1-acre profit drives rice-duck farming expansion

A rice-duck farming initiative that generated $300,000 in net profit from a single acre is set for expansion across Guyana, with Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha pledging Government support to farmers willing to adopt the integrated system.

The initiative combines rice cultivation with duck rearing, allowing farmers to generate income from two commodities on the same acreage.
Mustapha made the commitment on Monday during an event at the Rice Research Station at Burma, Mahaicony, Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), where results from the initial demonstration were presented alongside the experiences of farmers who have adopted the system.

Implemented by the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB), with support from the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and Canada, the initiative is being promoted as a way of reducing production costs while increasing farmers’ earnings.

Mustapha said Government intends to take the initiative beyond the research station and establish it as a practical farming option in rice-producing communities.

He identified Regions Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), Four (Demerara-Mahaica), Five and Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) as areas where the system could be expanded, with agricultural agencies providing technical assistance and other support.

“As long as you are prepared to do that, the Government will support you and help you to do the integration that I’m talking about,” the Minister assured farmers.

Discussions are also taking place with the Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA) and the FAO on extending the initiative, which Mustapha said must become a sustainable agricultural practice rather than remain a limited demonstration.

Financial profits

The first demonstration involved 200 ducklings being introduced into one acre of rice cultivation, according to GRDB agronomist, Dr Ghansham Payman.

At the end of the production cycle, 190 ducks had survived, representing a five per cent mortality rate. The ducks attained an average weight of 6.5 pounds and were sold at $600 per pound, generating $741,000.

The rice cultivated on the same acre produced 28 bags of paddy, which were sold as seed at $5,000 per bag, earning another $140,000.
Combined revenue amounted to $881,000, while expenses associated with rice cultivation and duck rearing totalled $581,000, leaving a net profit of $300,000.

The expenditure included establishing the rice crop, constructing a duck shelter, installing fencing, purchasing ducklings and providing materials required for their care.

Payman said the results confirmed the potential for farmers to earn more from land already being used for rice cultivation, particularly as high production costs and fluctuating paddy prices continue to affect profitability.

14 farmers, including 5 women

This success subsequently led the GRDB to introduce the system to six farmers, including two women, who received training, technical assistance and starter kits containing 100 ducklings each, feeding and watering equipment, and fencing materials.

Participation is now being expanded to 14 farmers, including five women.

“So now we have 14 farmers involved. And of the 14 farmers we have, five of them are females,” Payman disclosed. He explained that the system addresses several challenges facing rice farmers, particularly those cultivating relatively small acreages. Ducks introduced into established rice fields feed on weeds and insects, reducing the need for herbicides and pesticides. Their droppings provide nutrients to the soil, while their movement through the water helps improve soil conditions.

The system also creates opportunities to earn from duck meat and, where breeding operations are established, the sale of eggs and ducklings.

However, Payman identified the labour required for transplanting rice as a significant challenge, noting that mechanisation would be important to making the system more accessible as it expands.

Farmer’s experience
For 47-year-old farmer Dianne Hinds, who cultivated one acre under the programme, the initiative has provided an opportunity to reduce expenses while developing additional sources of income. Hinds said traditional rice farming required substantial expenditure on agricultural inputs, often leaving farmers with limited profits after harvesting.

She received 100 ducklings and incorporated them into her rice cultivation with assistance from her family.

“And with this duck rice programme, it’s money gain because every dollar remains in your pocket. For me, the duck rice project helped me to grow my business in many ways. It cut costs,” she told the gathering.

Hinds reported harvesting approximately 24.5 bags of dried paddy from her acre despite experiencing some crop losses.
The opportunity to earn from duck production has also encouraged her to consider other agricultural ventures, including breeding ducks and producing cash crops.

Her two sons assisted with the project, giving them practical exposure to an agricultural system that combines crop and livestock production.

“It gives me multiple businesses. It made me a better farmer. It gives me more confidence as a woman farmer trying new technology,” Hinds said. She credited the GRDB’s technical team for helping her understand and implement the system.

The financial benefits were central to Mustapha’s message that agricultural development must be measured not only by increased production but also by the returns farmers receive.

“So, increasing production is good, but increasing production is not alone, it’s not enough. We must also ensure that farmers earn a fair return of their investment,” the Minister declared.

He said reducing production costs and creating additional income opportunities were essential to Government’s agricultural development strategy.

Mustapha also urged farmers to reconsider traditional approaches to cultivation and become more receptive to innovation.
“There are a lot of programmes that you could do as farmers, but you have to have a mindset change. Your attitude has to change to embrace these new programmes,” he said.

He encouraged farmers to explore other forms of integrated agriculture, including combining rice cultivation with fish farming and other agricultural activities.