Over 50 farmers have already joined the Ministry of Agriculture’s newly introduced rice duck integrated system, with plans underway to expand the programme and introduce additional integrated farming models.
The farming approach combines duck rearing with rice cultivation. Ducks are introduced into rice fields where they feed on pests and weeds. This reduce the need for chemical pesticides and herbicides.
Their droppings also serve as a natural fertiliser, improving soil fertility and supporting healthier crop growth.
The initiative helps farmers lower production costs, increase rice yields and promote more sustainable and environmentally friendly agricultural practices.
Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha told the Department of Public Information (DPI) on Wednesday that extension officers are actively working with farmers to advance the initiative, which forms part of a broader effort to create added value within the agricultural sector.
The minister explained that the ministry is also pursuing a fish rice programme, another avenue for integrated farming in which fish are raised in rice fields alongside rice cultivation.
The fish live in the flooded paddies, feeding on insects, weeds, and other organisms, while their waste provides nutrients that enhance soil fertility and support rice growth.
Minister Mustapha said the objective is to create additional value for rice farmers through integrated farming systems.
He noted that the government is working with farmers to make approximately two acres of land available for integrated farming, allowing them to cultivate rice and high-value crops while engaging in activities such as aquaculture.
This initiative, he explained, is a collaborative effort between the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB). [DPI]
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