Promising results from the cultivation of a small batch of wheat varieties at the Burma Rice Research Station in Region Five has encouraged government to expand its wheat production trial at two locations across Guyana.
On the sidelines of a recent event, Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha told reporters that the results from the small trial, led by local scientist Dr Mahendra Persaud, are encouraging and the growth of the grain would be tested in other fields within the next two weeks.
“So what he will do, he will come out in open fields to start that trial there and we are looking also at some certain areas,” Mustapha said as he pointed out that the trial will be done on two to three acres at the Burma Rice Research Station and in Paramakatoi in Region Eight.
The climate conditions in Region Eight, he noted, seems to be perfect for production of the crop.
“You know, in Parama-katoi, time like now [13:00hrs] in the day, the place is still foggy and cold, so that is an area we have to look at because… wheat grows in temperate areas. There are possibilities in different parts of the country where we can have nurseries to see where it will grow better. All those things are under consideration,” Mustapha had previously explained.
“This is a new crop for our country and we are looking at certain areas, so what the scientist told me, Dr Mahendra Persaud told me he started some at the rice research station and the prospect looks very good in the very small amount,” the Agriculture Minister explained before stating that there are possibly some 49 varieties of wheat have the potential to become to be successful here.
“So I’m hoping that in a matter of two weeks’ time, two to three weeks’ time from now, we will have at least two locations that will do the trial,” he added.
Trials for the production of the wheat grain will be conducted across the country. This, he noted, will give an understanding of the areas with the right climate for the production of the grains on a large scale.
President Irfaan Ali had first announced that Guyana will be exploring the possibilities of wheat production to curb the impacts of shortages and exorbitant prices.
“Soon we are going to work to see whether we can find a variety of wheat that we can plant in Guyana, so that we can fulfill even our local requirement. We are learning important lessons now that we must not leave unanswered for future generations,” President Ali said during an engagement with residents at Lusignan, East Coast Demerara, back in March.
The disclosure was made while mentioning his government initiatives aimed at reducing the rising cost of living across the country.
With the recent skyrocketing prices for wheat coupled with other supply challenges, National Milling Company (Namilco) last month announced a 15% increase in the price of flour.
The war between Russia and Ukraine has also contributed significantly to the high increase in the price of wheat.
