Latest update June 15th, 2026 1:01 AM
E’bo rice farmers still due payments
After more than three months of completing their harvest, farmers on the Essequibo Coast are still to receive payments for the paddy. This information was revealed by the executives of the Essequibo Rice Farmers Association just last Friday.
Based on reports filtered to this publication through the Association, two millers on the Coast have not yet made any payment to a number of farmers over the past three months. Kaieteur News understands that initially, millers were paying farmers within a week.
As the harvesting season reached its climax however, millers failed in paying off a number of farmers.
A member of the executive added, “For quite some time now, farmers have been complaining to me, that two millers are owing farmers; Mr. Wazheer Hussain and Mr. Zamur Hack. What they explained is that that these millers have not made any payment to them over the past 3 months and the numbers are great.”
The Association believes that it is unfair that one miller has been making additional investments in expanding his business, but still claims that he has no money to pay off rice farmers.
Another executive member explained, “What is most shocking is that one of the millers purchased an additional mill but still cannot find money to pay farmers. We believe that this is extortion at its highest and the government needs to take actions.”
Many farmers are now placed under financial constraints, leaving thousands of acres of farmlands uncultivated. A representative of the Association told this publication last Friday.
“A lot of farmers cannot prepare their lands because some went back and took loans. They now have another problem because they do not have enough resources to pay workers, buy fertilizers and chemicals to cultivate.”
The Rice Farmer’s Association believes that at this point, the government needs to intervene and take action against these millers. The Association believes that miller’s licences should be revoked until all payments to farmers are settled.
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