Government steps up support as millers offer rice farmers $2300 per bag of paddy

…pledges continued subsidies to farmers, negotiations with millers

The Government of Guyana is intensifying support for rice farmers to cushion the effects of rising production costs and fluctuating market prices, Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha said at the launch of the Nano Fertiliser at the Burma Rice Research Station.

The Minister acknowledged that some rice millers are paying as little as $2300 per bag of paddy, which he described as unsustainable. He pledged to continue engaging with millers and the Rice Millers Association to secure better prices for farmers.
“We have different prices across the country; some areas are as high as $3000, but others are as low as $2300. That cannot work. I will be meeting with the millers again shortly to find a way forward,” he reassured farmers at the launch on Tuesday.
In addition to dialogue, the Government has made substantial financial interventions, including $4 billion in fertiliser subsidies in 2024–2025 and $1.9 billion in direct price support for the first crop of 2025 when paddy prices dropped.
“We have never turned our backs on farmers; our goal is to make sure you can produce efficiently and still have money in your pocket.”
Other forms of assistance include the distribution of free chemicals, seed paddy support, and paddy bug management programmes, which include paying labourers to spray affected areas.
Mustapha noted that while global market pressures, particularly from large rice exporters such as India, have affected local prices, the Government remains committed to protecting farmers’ livelihoods.
“The Government is doing its part to keep costs down and ensure you get the best possible price. We will continue to fight for increased prices for farmers,” the Minister assured.