CCCC hails Govt’s intervention for secured $4000 minimum price for paddy

The Central Corentyne Chamber of Commerce (CCCC) has praised Government for its intervention to ensure rice farmers get no less than $4000 for each bag of paddy they produce.
Millers had claimed that with rice prices falling on the world market, they could maintain the $4000 per bag that they paid farmer’s last crop.
However, with the intervention of the Government the millers agreed to pay at least $4000 per bag of paddy to farmers this crop.
The Government will forfeit the sales tax which is paid to the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) which will allow the millers to be able to pay at a minimum rate of $4000 per a 143-pound bag of paddy.

President of the CCCC, Poonai Bhigroog said agriculture and particular rice is the backbone of the economy of Berbice. The collective effort of the Government of Guyana through the Ministry of Agriculture and farmers has seen remarkable increases in cultivation and production of rice. The Chamber notes that in 2024, 67,000 acres of rice was cultivated in Berbice. In 2025, this figure is projected to be a record breaking 78,000 acres. In 2024, country wide production was 2,400,000 tonnes. In 2025, this is projected to be in excess of 3,000,000 tonnes.
“Farmers have recently been seeking assistance and the intervention of the Government of Guyana because of the 20 per cent decrease in the price per tonne of paddy locally,” He pointed out while noting that the CCCC commends President, Dr Mohamed Irfan Ali and Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha for their proactive approach and prompt intervention to bring relief to hardworking rice farmers.

“Through their intervention, an agreement has been brokered wherein the farmers would be guaranteed a minimum of $4000 per bag of paddy from the millers with the Government contributing (subsidising) at a rate of $300 per bag.”
Bhigroog says the CCCC views the move as a concrete indication of the Government’s commitment and dedication to sustaining and promoting agriculture and the wellbeing of farmers. (G4)