Barbados Ministry of Agriculture Finds Success in Homegrown Rice Trial with China, Aims to Reduce Imported Rice Bill

The Ministry of Agriculture has successfully harvested three tonnes of homegrown rice in a project trial with China that could potentially reduce the island’s annual rice import bill by a quarter, saving millions in foreign exchange.

At a harvest ceremony held at the Barbados Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (BADMC) in Fairy Valley, Christ Church, on Friday, acting chief executive officer Frederick Inniss expressed optimism that if successful, Barbados would soon be producing a substantial amount of rice domestically.

President Dame Sandra Mason joined Chinese Ambassador Yan Xiusheng and other officials in harvesting some of the rice in a symbolic step to mark joint cooperation in achieving Barbados’ agricultural self-sufficiency.

Barbados currently imports 4 600 tonnes of rice annually at a cost of $9.14 million, mostly from CARICOM neighbour Guyana and the US.

Over the past two years, a team from the Chinese Hunan Linshi Agricultural Services has been conducting successful rice production trials on a quarter-acre plot at the BADMC. The team has managed to yield three tonnes of upland rice, a variety that requires less water than other types.

Wang Jian, an agriculture specialist from Hunan Linshi Agricultural Services, affirmed that Barbados possesses the ideal soil, climate, and light conditions for growing upland rice. He added: “Based on empirical data, this variety of rice requires less water than initially anticipated.”

Inniss said: “The prospect of large-scale production of rice is an exciting new horizon for the Barbados farming community. Both with regards to the opportunities for diversification of cropping systems and from the perspective of improving national food security and import replacement.”

The project is set to expand significantly in the coming year. The Chinese team plans to partner with farmers to cultivate rice on 15 acres at the Pine Basin land lease project in St Michael. This expanded acreage is expected to produce 45 tonnes of rice.

Minister of Agriculture Indar Weir noted that upland rice, commonly grown in China, is primarily used in sushi. He outlined future plans: “Following the success of the 15-acre project, plans will be developed to increase production, packaging, and distribution for local consumption.” The envisioned model involves contracting rice growers and training local farmers in cultivation techniques.

But the agriculture minister cautioned: “This will take strategic and careful planning because water will be a big part of this. Rice is grown in water and while we’ve proven that we don’t have to go to the other varieties that are highly water intensive, we still have to be cognisant of the fact that the project will still require water.”

To significantly offset imports, Inniss said Barbados would need to cultivate between 100 and 200 acres of rice.

In the BADMC trial, the rice was planted in April and harvested on Friday, approximately 116 days later.

sheriabrathwaite@barbadostoday.bb