Essequibo farmers stage low paddy prices

Mar 08, 2014 News

Rice farmers who are still owed millions of dollars by millers and are concerned with the current low prices that are being advertised for paddy, yesterday staged a protest on the Anna Regina High bridge.
President of the Essequibo Farmers Paddy Association and Alliance For Change Regional Councillor, Naith Ram has vowed that the protest will continue until a meeting with President Donald Ramotar is held.
The farmers held placards reading “Farmers demanding 3,800 per a bag “and “Essequibo farmers wake up from their sleeping slumber, “among others.
Harvesting of the spring crop has commenced in Region Two but while this exercise began three weeks ago, General Secretary of the Guyana Rice Producers Association, Dharmurkumar Seeraji in an invited comment explained that the price for paddy has decreased from primarily because Guyana’s production has doubled.
He indicated that 100,000 tons of rice still remains in the system from the previous crop through the efforts of two rice millers on the Essequibo Coast would see a small quantity of rice being shipped to Haiti by Sunday. Seeraji also noted that from 2012 to2013 the production increased by 113, 00 thousand tons.
He said Venezuela accounts for the utilization of seventy percent of Guyana’s production, noting also that Venezuela’s export remains at 200,00 thousand tons per annum. Seeraji said exports to other traditional markets, like the European Union and the Caribbean Markets have also increased.
Rice production is the major economic activity in Region Two. Last year farmers protested being owed by millers.

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