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Govt. threatens to increase fertilizer quota as farmers face high prices
Ministry of Agriculture says it will be moving to release fertilizer at a cheaper price
The Ministry of Agriculture says it will be moving to release fertilizer at a cheaper price in an effort to stop price gouging.
Defending the move, the Ministry said that last year, it imported fertilizer and made it available to farmers at a reduced rate- a move which was geared at ensuing that the high prices being paid for the commodity becomes a thing of the past.
“In the process, farmers saved more than $600M in 2013. Subsequently, the private sector moved to reduce the price offered for fertilizers which stood between $7,000 to $10,000 per bag to match the $5000 per bag being offered by Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB).”
The Ministry insisted that through its collaborative approach with GRDB and the Rice Producers Association (RPA), there is no desire to compete with the private sector in supplying fertilizer to farmers.
“…however, we believe that the prices offered last year for the commodity was not fair and it was on this basis that we intervened. The decision by the private sector to reduce the price offered was welcomed by the Government and we were hoping that such a move would be sustained. However, there has been a reverse in the trend and presently farmers are once again faced with paying the high price for fertilizers.”
The Ministry said that is now forced once again to make available fertilizers on the market at a lower rate, all with the aim of ensuring that farmers’ livelihood are safeguarded.
“Should such behaviour on the part of the private sector continue, we would have no other alternative but to increase the quota of fertilizer we import into the country.”
According to the Ministry, over the years, there has been a general increase in the price for fertilizers and pesticides.
“Research data, field trials and actual farm use have shown that when properly used, commercial fertilizers can result in significant economic advantage to the farmer, hence the move by the Ministry to ensure that farmers have access to the commodity.”
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