Rice Producers’ Association needs to do more for farmers

Jan 19, 2017 Letters

Dear Editor,
I would like to thank the Minister of Agriculture Noel Holder and his team for visiting Region 5 on Thursday January 12. The outreach saw meetings at Little Biaboo, Mahaica Creek; Strath Campell, Mahaicony; and Fort Wellington, West Coast Berbice. Farmers were given the opportunity to face the Minister and vent their concerns, be those, land rates, D&I, cattle rearing, cash crops, etc. The Minister and team addressed the farmers and also advised as to the way forward towards developing agriculture in Region 5.
The meeting was well attended and everyone was given the opportunity to voice what was important to them or where they wanted to see improvement. Some farmers voiced their opinion on the increase in the land rent at MMA\ADA. At the meeting in Little Biaboo the farmers said nothing about the increase in the land rent, and they pledged to do some self-help work in the area. Some even offered to purchase their own tubes to put across the dams for better drainage.
I believe that the farmers have agriculture at heart no matter what. But I was very surprised by the attitude of the Rice Producers Association (RPA). Its head, Mr Seeraj turned up after the meeting was finished, as the Minister and his team were about to leave. He was sharing placards with various anti-government slogans. It is a shame to see an MP trying to derail the road to development in the agriculture sector, or any sector. No other RPA representatives were there to listen to the farmers. Region 5 calls on the RPA to do something more active and genuinely represent the farmers. They should stop playing politics with the lives of the farmers. I hope that in 2017 we will see more such visits by the Minister of Agriculture, and not only from him and teams from his ministry but from all the government ministries and agencies.
Abel Seetaram
APNU+AFC
Regional Councillor- Region 5

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