GRDB Concludes Precision Farming Initiative to Boost Rice Production
Earlier today, the Guyana Rice Development Board hosted a closing ceremony for the Enhancing Precision Farming Practices in Rice Production for Guyana’s Small Farmers Using Drone Technology Programme.
The programme, which seeks to introduce drone technology and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to improve rice production in Guyana is a collaborative effort between the Government of Guyana, the FAO, the People’s Republic of China, and the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB).
Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha, while delivering the feature address, said that the programme is part of the transformative power of technology in revolutionizing Guyana’s rice cultivation sector.
The minister also said that by introducing drone technology and Geographic Information Systems (GIS), farmers will be equipped with invaluable tools to optimize their operations and even further maximize yields. He also said that the services will be made available to farmers free of cost.
Through support from the FAO and the Government of China, some US $165,000 was invested to procure five advanced crop management drones, and laptops.
A team of drone pilots and data analysts comprising staff of the GRDB and farmers from across the rice-producing regions of Guyana were also trained as part of the project.
The project, which was piloted in Regions Two, Three, and Six, aims to build capacity and establish drone and GIS mapping teams in Guyana, with a total project sum of US $165,000.
