Rice farmers to be paid at least $4,000 per bag of paddy

Rice farmers will be paid at least $4,000 per bag of paddy for the first crop of 2023 as part of an agreement brokered on Saturday to bring relief to rice farmers across Guyana.

The deal was brokered on Saturday, during a meeting held at the State House, the official residence of Guyana’s Head of State.

At that meeting was President Dr. Irfaan Ali, Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha and representatives of the Guyana Millers and Exporters Association (GREMA) and the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB).

It was also agreed that the sales commission paid by millers and exporters for rice, by-products of rice and paddy is reduced to zero for the first crop of 2023.

This agreement comes as rice farmers have been calling for better paddy prices in light of the increased cost of inputs, such as fertilisers and challenges with the weather.

During a recent meeting at Anna Regina, Region Two (Pomeroon- Supenaam) called on the government to intervene in what they deemed was lower-than-normal prices from millers.

“We had a very difficult time to plant and still now, to this date, when the rice start to bear, some gon harvest soon, we can’t know what we working for.

“Last crop, (paddy was sold) at $4,000 per bag (but now) some mills got up $3,500 per bag,” rice farmer Andrian Wellington said then.

Previously, Mustapha explained that the government cannot demand an across-the-board price for paddy since production costs in different areas vary due to factors such as transportation.

He, however, promised to meet with the GRDB and millers to determine prices.

Additionally, Mustapha acknowledge the rising costs of production and said the government will provide much-needed support to the farmers. He highlighted that funds were allocated in the 2023 National Budget to do dam upgrades to assist with transporting their crops for the fields. Those works will be executed soon.