After years of waiting, rice farmers & millers get money owed

Several farmers and millers in Region Two (Pomeroon- Supenaam) on Saturday received $437 million, funds they were owed for almost a decade.

Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha, while addressing farmers and millers in the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) boardroom, said the former APNU/AFC government failed to work in the interest of the Guyanese farmers and millers to ensure they received the outstanding payments after rice produced in Guyana was shipped to Venezuela.

Minister Mustapha explained that while in opposition, the PPP/C government met with farmers and millers on several occasions and committed to ensuring the monies owed were paid.

“I remember vividly, when I became the Minister of Agriculture, I met with several farmers on two different issues. One issue was payment for rice that was supplied to Panama and the other issue was about paddy that was purchased to supply to Venezuela through the PetroCaribe agreement. When we were in government prior to 2015, we signed both contracts. In 2015, we came out of government and the APNU/AFC went into government and both markets were lost. They were making a lot of ludicrous accusations and excuses about the deals while farmers were suffering. They concluded that rice is a private business and was not investing to improve the sector. Today, under your government, the PPP/C government, you are receiving the monies owed to you. This is the way a caring and committed government operates. We are always working in the interest of the citizens of this country,” he noted.

Minister Mustapha also said that while the rice was supplied in both instances, no efforts were made by the former administration to recoup the outstanding payments. He also reminded farmers and millers that under the APNU/AFC government, rice was categorized as a “private business”.

“They lost the market in Panama and although rice was supplied, they did not conclude the deal to ensure the outstanding sums were paid. $1.5 billion was owed to the farmers and millers of this country. For the PetroCaribe deal, over $450 million was owed to our farmers. While the nay-sayers might want to come and convince you otherwise, I can assure you that this government will ensure we take care of every citizen in this country,” he explained.

Minister Mustapha also disclosed that, over the years, the government has invested over $5 billion to improve infrastructure to support the agriculture sector in Region Two, adding that approximately five new farm-to-market roads are currently under construction in the region.

The government of Guyana signed a rice compensation agreement with Venezuela in 2009 wherein Guyanese rice exports were accepted in partial payment for imports of Venezuelan oil. The scheme had provided stimulus to the Guyanese rice sector, which resulted in higher levels of investments in improved inputs and machinery, an expansion in the areas cultivated, higher levels of outputs and exports, and increased employment (Modified press release from the Ministry of Agriculture)