GRDB lauds Pres Ali, Govt for $4000 a bag rice deal

– expresses confidence that Govt will continue support of agri sector

The Guyana Rice Producers’ Association (GRPA) has lauded the Government for the recent agreement between them and the Guyana Rice Millers’ Association for the purchase of rice at a rate of $4000 per bag.
In a statement, GRPA singled out President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali, Vice President Bharat Jagdeo, and Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha for praise and noted that the successful outcome of the meeting held on March 4, 2023, between the Government, the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) and the Rice Millers’ Association, is a welcome one.

President Dr Irfaan Ali along with other Cabinet officials facilitated last Saturday’s engagement between the rice farmers and millers at State House

“The decision arrived at to purchase paddy for this season at a minimum of $4000 per bag is most welcome at a time when the rice industry is facing many challenges such as adverse weather conditions and dipping world market prices.”
“The forgoing of the GRDB charges associated with the export of paddy, rice and the by-products will reduce the cost of export and enable exporters to pay farmers a well-deserved price for paddy,” GRPA said in the statement.
According to GRPA, the decision by the Government to zero rate the charges will not be without financial consequences to the GRDB. However, GRPA acknowledged the continued commitment of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration to support the farmers and millers.
This is particularly important, according to GRPA, “in these trying times”. According to GRPA, the Government’s actions have provided some reassurance that the agriculture sector will continue to enjoy Government’s support.
Rice is one of the sectors the Government has set specific targets for as it aims to ramp up agricultural production in several areas, ranging from rice production to other crops and vegetable production, as part of its drive to increase food security.
During his presentation to members of the diaspora in Orlando, Florida last year, President Ali had informed them that they are aiming to increase rice output to over 800,000 tonnes. According to the President, the Government is focused on positioning Guyana to become a leader in food production.
“We’re looking to move our vegetables production from 324,000 metric tonnes to 400,000 metric tonnes. Rice, from 560,000 metric tonnes to 870,000 metric tonnes by 2025. Aquaculture. In one year alone, we’ve increased our shrimp production from 2250 kg to 1.2 billion kg, in one year,” the President said.
“By 2025, we’re looking at increasing our poultry production from 50,000 metric tonnes to 90,000 metric tonnes. An almost 100 per cent increase. Corn and soya, for the first time in the history of our country, we’re now doing corn and soya on a commercial scale. And we’re now projected to produce 35,000 metric tonnes by 2035,” he also said, referring to other crops.
In the rice sector, over $100 million was spent last year at the half-year mark to improve rice yields. Additionally, support in pest control was provided to farmers, while the Agriculture Ministry also marked the milestone of the Value-Added Laboratory becoming operational in March 2022.
“At the end of the review period, 16,277 bags of seeds were produced and of this amount, 13,153 bags of quality seeds were produced at the Burma Rice Research Centre while the remaining 3124 bags were by private seed growers from the No 56 Seed Facility. Research and testing continued in the first half with 6 of the 8 aromatic lines, 10 of the 12 high yielding lines and 4 of the 16 biofortified zinc lines selected for further testing.”
“Additionally, the Value-Added Laboratory became operational in March 2022 while research on rice and rice products progressed to working with bakeries to commercially produce bread and pastries from rice flour. Further, the completion of the Soil Laboratory was delayed due to the challenges with the supply of equipment for the laboratory owing to the global supply chain crisis,” the 2022 mid-year report had stated.
The Government’s focus on agriculture is down to the vision of making Guyana the bread basket of the Caribbean and reducing the regional food import bill. Last year, President Ali had declared that his Government would be pursuing an aggressive campaign to dismantle regional barriers to agricultural trade and that in the next four years, with the assistance of more diversified crops, Guyana would aim to reduce Caricom’s food import bill by 25 per cent.