Latest update October 9th, 2026 6:21 PM
Why change what is working for the rice farmers?
Dear Editor,
Once again we have a missive from the Mr. Jinnah Rahaman, who is ill informed of the assistance to rice farmers. Mr. Rahaman claimed to be a rice farmer and does not know of the effort of the Government, Guyana Rice Development Board and other related agencies.
Mr. Rahaman need to know that the role of the Government is to ensure that the enabling mechanisms are in place to ensure that the private sector have very little or no hindrance to production.
The increase in production and the success of the industry, despite unfavourable weather condition the last few years is a reliable testimony of the support to the sector.
Supports in the following areas are continuous and will not end due to missive by persons like Mr. Rahaman.
· The provision of adequate drainage and irrigation.
· The supply of good quality seeds.
· Technology transfer and extension education to the farmers.
· Finally the marketing of the paddy and rice.
I will try and expand some of the above and because of time and space I will limit them to just a few examples.
Despite the heaviest rain for some decade the beginning of March, we will have a bumper harvest. Mr. Rahaman, kindly take some of your time and research the numbers and see the amount Government spent on drainage.
The average yield has doubled in the last 10 years; this has not come without the money, time and effort of the Government and staff of GRDB.
Our farmers’ training is superior to what exist before; today the farmers that are in the Farmers Field School (FFS) can boast of harvesting 40 to 50 bags a crop. This has come without a lot of effort time and money by the Government and GRDB.
Sometimes you are forced to try to understand the mindset of some persons, soured to the extent of being disappointed with themselves. A classic example of one such disappointment and contradiction is Jinnah Rahaman. Sometimes I am led to believe that these people are most unhappy that they have no role in a rice industry that is growing leaps and bounds and surpassing all production targets, directly as a consequence of the commitment of our hardy and hardworking farmers and the unwavering and expanding support from central government.
For Rahaman’s information, it must be made pellucid that the paddy and rice export businesses with Venezuela have already had a significantly positive impact on the entire rice industry and more millers and farmers are today supplying paddy and rice than when the contracts first started. These businesses resulted from a collaborative initiated between the Presidents of Guyana and Venezuela for the benefit of both countries and a deepening of economic and political ties.
This business with Venezuela will continue to grow and more millers and farmers, the latter through their initiatives at the establishment of farmers’ groups and not awaiting help from any co-operative, will continue to benefit.
The state of the global economy where commodity prices are often unpredictable and input prices hard to forecast, would have had a dire impact on the Guyana rice industry had it not been for this governmental initiative of exporting paddy and rice to Venezuela.
This Guyana – Venezuela rice and paddy contracts have caused paddy prices to increase significantly and thousands of hardworking farmers are benefiting. The few whom Rahaman presumably have under his wraps may not benefit if they stay with him.
He never had focus and foresight and wants to be spoon-fed. This little group of farmers over whom his influence is certainly rapidly diminishing should immediate break-out from him and seek help from the better farmers who are benefiting by doing the right thing.
These farmers should know that each and every farmer and miller in this country has a right to supply paddy and rice to the Venezuelans, but they have to organise themselves in groups as is done on the Essequibo Coast and not await the co-operative department to contact them. This is what is called initiative.
This attempt at trying to use our rice farmers as political football will never happen. Why change what is working for the rice farmers, and indeed all Guyanese?
Jagnarine Singh BSc, MSc
General Manager GRDB
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