E’bo paddy price plunges more than 50% due to poor yields -farmers appeal for assistance to jump start next crop

Oct 06, 2018 News

Quite a number of rice farmers on the Essequibo Coast are becoming more concerned about the fate of the local rice industry, especially since the price per bag of paddy has been slashed by more than 50%.
Kaieteur News understands that a number of farmers are presently being paid $300 to $360 per bag of paddy, as compared to $2,700 to $3,000 during the last crop.
Region Two is believed to be of particular interest since it reportedly holds the largest percentage of smaller rice farmers. Since the sector requires a significant sum of investment, most farmers who pulled out mortgages from the local banks, are reportedly now heavily indebted.
Farmers indicated that they are still indecisive on whether they will be able to reinvest in the coming crop.
One farmer said, “Me carry in paddy just the other day and me only get $300 fuh one bag paddy; fuh the whole trailer me get $18,705 dollar and that can’t pay.” Another farmer added, “Me plan fo bun the field cause I ain’t know where I gon get the money to plant back and I already owe the bank. Right now, it gon cost more to cut the paddy and take it to the mill cause the price I gon get there gon can’t even cover that expense.”
This publication understands that farmers were poorly paid, since millers are saying that the yield this crop is poor.
The exceedingly high percentage of damaged grains tremendously reduces the price for a farmer’s product. As was explained to Kaieteur News, the untimely rains would have contributed significantly to the poor yield during this crop.
The Essequibo’s Farmer Paddy claims that the rainy season paved the way for an infestation of paddy bugs. A member of the association explained that, “the bug usually sucks the ‘milk’ out the grain, and it eventually becomes danged.” The association further explained that some farmers suffered 49% of damaged grain, while others suffered as much as 70 percent damaged grains. The Farmer’s Association also pointed out that a number of farmers are still owed by millers, and were in no financial position to effectively fight the infestation.
The Association believes that the sudden decline in the paddy price will negatively affect the industry. In an effort to jump-start the coming crop, the Association believes that the government should provide some form of subsidy to assist farmers in the new crop.
The Association added, “we are appealing that the government make available to the farmers in Region Two either seed paddy or fertilizer, otherwise a lot of farmers will be unable to reinvest for the next crop.” [Romario Blair]

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E’bo paddy price plunges more than 50% due to poor yields -farmers appeal for assistance to jump start next crop

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E’bo paddy price plunges more than 50% due to poor yields -farmers appeal for assistance to jump start next crop

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