Productive Diversification Initiative for Rice Farmers in Berbice

The Government of Guyana is promoting productive diversification among rice farmers in Region Six, particularly in Black Bush Polder, to improve farmers' incomes and reduce their dependence on rice cultivation amid fluctuations in the global rice market. The Ministry of Agriculture, together with the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) and the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI), is encouraging farmers to diversify into coconut cultivation, high-value crops, aquaculture, shade-house farming and integrated farming systems while providing technical support. The initiative is also linked to government efforts to introduce improved rice varieties that are better able to withstand changing weather conditions and provide higher yields.