Rice farmers protest bug infestation

Apr 20, 2013 News

Farmers, plagued by an infestation of ‘bugs’ continued a three-day protest by congregating in front of the Region Two Democratic Council. The protest commenced on Wednesday.

Some of the rice farmers protesting in front of the Region Two Democratic Council.

Yesterday’s protest attracted farmers from along the Essequibo Coast who marched from Reliance to the Anna Regina High Bridge.
They are insisting that the protest will continue if their concerns are not being addressed.
One of their persistent problems is the rapid ‘bug’ infestation.
Other problems are non-payment, poor pricing and post dated cheques.
Rice farmer, Rudolph Singh, of Bounty-Hall, said that for the current crop, farmers have suffered the worst. Entire fields have been destroyed by the bugs.
Singh alleged that the chemicals that farmers have been using have proven non-effective since there continues to be a resurgence of bugs even after the fields have been sprayed.
The farmer further explained that the Guyana Rice Development Board at Anna Regina should test the chemicals and send an Anthropologist to analyze the infested fields.
“Farmers need other assistance in order for them to go back into the fields. The situation is helpless, farmers are one of the most hard working people of this country; they should be recognised for their efforts.”
Singh said that at the time when the government organized the deal with Venezuela the deal was intended to be an exchange of paddy for fertiliser. Singh said that that agreement never materialized.
Alliance For Change Councillor, Naitram, said that the Act that was prepared for farmers needs to be reviewed since it currently benefits millers, rather than the farmers.
Naitram added farmers have also been receiving post dated cheques and the situation is becoming dire since farmers have no representation on the Coast.
Parmanand Persaud, the Regional Chairman, told farmers that he was in support of their protest. He said that after visiting several rice fields, he observed that at least 30 percent of the fields were damaged.
An official from Guyana Rice Board, Deoram, told farmers that GRDB and the Rice Producers’ Association (RPA) do not have the authority to price paddy.
Some farmers have received up to $4,000 per a bag. Harvesting began two months ago. (Yannason Duncan).