Rice farmers on the Corentyne are reeling from the paddy bug infestation which has caused an average of 20% losses throughout the region leaving many farmers unsure of how they will return to the fields next crop.
According to the farmers, the Ministry of Agriculture through its extension services is carrying out daily monitoring of the situation. Heading the monitoring team in the region, farmer, Lekha Rambrich explained that while currently there is a decline in the paddy bug, damage has already been estimated to be an average of 20% across the region.