Poor rice prices affect farmers in East Berbice

Oct 05, 2009 News

BENGAL FARM, CORENTYNE – Rice farmers in Region Six – East Berbice/Corentyne are paid the lowest prices in Guyana for their produce. This is according to the President of the Guyana Rice Producers’ Association, Leeka Rambrich.
In this geographic location, there are only two main buyers – the Mahaicony Rice Company which currently pays between $31,000 and $34,000 per tonne of rice and Nand Persaud and Company – $34,000 to $37,000, “Those prices would mean that farmers earn between $2,000 and $2,300 per bag of paddy. If you calculate this it covers only the cost of production and this is based on this present yield we are having. If the yield drops then they will go into red and the yield is expected to drop.”
In the interest of the rice farmers and rice industry, Mr. Rambrich is appealing to the Guyana Rice Development Board to stop approving contracts that offer below US$400 per tonne of rice.
According to him, the present price offered by the European buyers is US$355 per tonne, “This reflects down to the present price we are having and it would cause farmers to run into loss. If they (European buyers) sign for US$400 per tonne then farmers would make a profit.”
Region Six accounts for approximately one-third of the rice produced in Guyana. The low price issue was evident since during the Spring Crop (first crop), “We continue to see it!”
This all boils down to the supply to, and demand of rice millers since Region Six produces more than the millers can take off.
There is always the option of vending the produce outside of East Berbice/Corentyne but this is a costly exercise, “Some of these trucks charge over $300 to transport a bag of paddy to Region Five. To transport the same bag of rice around Region Six is between $100 and $150. Other Regions offer $2,500 – $2,900 a bag of paddy.”
Mr. Rambrich opined that the way out of this situation is to have more rice millers and investors in Region Six. He said that Government should set up an export entity which would see small rice millers vending their produce to the Government itself or the representative which would in turn market the rice, “This would encourage more competition among the millers and ensure that farmers are paid a better price.”
Meanwhile, harvesting of the 46,980-acre Autumn Crop commenced in Region Six three weeks ago. In the Front Lands (Crabwood Creek to New Forest along with East and West Canje, the East Bank of Berbice and New Amsterdam) 29,992 acres were sown and in Black Bush Polder – 16,988. This represents a 511 acreage increase when compared to the first crop (Spring Crop).
A further breakdown reveals that Borlam/East Bank planted 3,100 acres, Borlam/Hogstye – 4,505, Adventure/Number Sixty-two – 12,235, Number Sixty-two/Number Seventy-four -6,727, Crabwood Creek 3,413, Lesbeholden 10,000 and Joanna and Yakusari together 7,000 acres.
Up to Friday October 2nd, the Front Lands harvested 685 acres and Black Bush Polder 945. In the Front Lands the yield is 28 bags per acre while in Black Bush Polder it is 30.
Harvesting is expected to continue until the first week in December. Mr. Rambrich indicated that both weather conditions and access roads to farmlands are in the farmers’ favour.
The other issue facing rice farmers is the ‘Red Rice’ infestation. Some 90 percent of this present crop is affected. ‘Red Rice’ grows above the normal crop and is considered a weed. It affects the grade of the rice in terms of quality.
Meanwhile, the Region Six Administration placed a hymac in the Adventure/Whim area last week. This would be relocated as necessary to ensure that farmers receive an adequate amount of water to clean irrigation canals within these areas.

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