‘Bitter Christmas’ for E’bo rice farmers this year

Dec 23, 2018 News

Rice farmers on the Essequibo Coast claim that a bitter Christmas is ahead of them, following the disastrous year endured by the local rice industry in Region Two [Pomeroon/Supenaam].
This publication had an opportunity to speak with a number of farmers yesterday, as they waited outside the Golden Fleece Rice Investment [GFRI].
More than 300 farmers gathered in front of the mill, hoping that the outstanding money owed to them by the mill would be paid. It was reportedly after a confrontation that the manager of the rice mill opened the gates and agreed to start paying off farmers.
When Kaieteur News arrived on the scene on Friday, just 30 farmers would have received payments after three hours. The vast majority said that they feared that they would leave the mill without being issued a cheque.
Based on the reports, farmers are still owed for the paddy sold to the GFRI since September. Some farmers explained, “This rice mill owe me $1.8 million. Right now, they got $1 million left for me ‘cause they pay out the $800,000.
This is the system we the rice farmers gotta deal with. Right now, the miller operating like a rat because the mill take yuh paddy and you gotta run to them just to get yuh money… you own money.”
We cut rice since September, since then, me only get $70,000. Last week, they said that we should come today and today we gotta wait.”
Kaieteur News understands a 2% interest must be paid by the mill on all outstanding balances that exceeds a 42-day period. Reports are, however, that the miller has not being paying any interest on the outstanding balances, as highlighted on the contract.
One farmer confirmed this. “After 42 days, we suppose to get interest because that is wha deh pon the contract. But now we deh more than 100 days without pay, and we getting no interest.”

“Some of the Farmers gathered outside the Golden Fleece Rice Investment yesterday.”

To make matters worse, farmers are reportedly left no choice but to credit fertilizer and seed paddy from the said miller. They are subjected to pay interest on the credited items.
“Because he owe we money, we can’t afford to buy seed paddy and fertilizer cash so we gotta turn around and credit the fertilizer and seed paddy from the same miller. He don’t pay we interest when he owe we money, but he want interest, we must pay interest on the seed paddy and fertilizer when the farmer tek credit,” one farmer explained.
Region Two is heavily dependent on the rice industry and a vast majority of the region’s population is directly linked to rice. It is believed that a crippling rice industry will in time lead to a crippling economy locally. The holiday shopping within the Anna Regina Town would have greatly reduced as compared to last year.
A few farmers explained, “I owe IPED $600,000 and I gotta pay interest on that loan. Every month, I gotta pay and if I’m not getting my money from the miller then the interest going up.”
“I got four children to take care of and it real rough for me. Rice is the major means of income for me; this me depend on.
“I can’t go to the bank for a loan because if the miller can’t pay; then me can’t take the risk and take a loan and then can’t pay it back.”
A call was made again yesterday for the Minister of Agriculture, Noel Holder, to pay keen interest in the sector.