High fertiliser price: President Ali intervenes to bring further relief to farmers

…says, “We are in this together,” at Region 2 meeting

On the heels of protests by Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) farmers over the high price of fertiliser, President Dr Irfaan Ali has sought a further reduction of the costs from local suppliers to bring more relief to farmers amid global supply challenges that are contributing to the rise in prices and the lack of supplies.
Fertiliser costs have been going up for months now and the issue was previously raised with the Head of State during a visit to the Pomeroon-Supenaam region back in September.

However, two weeks ago, the Region Two farmers had complained during a protest that, due to the high price of the fertilisers, they were finding it hard to move forward with their cultivation and had called on the Government to intervene in the matter.
Days later, Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha travelled to the region and was able to influence the reduction of the cost for the two types of fertilisers by 10 per cent and 18 per cent, respectively.
But during a recent visit, President Ali met with farmers across the region and announced that he too spoke with the fertilizer dealer and managed to get the prices reduced by a further $100.

With this, the Head of State reassured farmers of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government’s continuous support.
“I am here to work with the farmers to genuinely improve your stocks… Every single day, we are out there fighting for farmers, fighting for every Guyanese. So, we are in this together. If you sink, I sink, if I rise, you rise—it’s a simple equation,” the President contended during the meeting held at the Guyana Rice Producers’ Association bond in Anna Regina, Essequibo Coast.
He also took time to explain and reiterate to the farmers that the rising cost of fertilisers and other goods is out of the Government’s control.
“The Minister of Agriculture will tell you what is happening in the industry. And then I will tell you what more we are doing to try and help you because you know what is going on right now. The price of natural gas is skyrocketing, and natural gas is a key ingredient to produce fertilisers. We don’t have control over that. Understanding that I’ve been reaching out, we have meetings every day with other countries to try to resolve this issue,” the Head of State stressed.
Joining the Head of State at the meeting on Friday were Minister Mustapha and Senior Minister with Responsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh, who also spent time explaining the other external factors that are affecting the country.
Dr Singh noted that the global supply chain has been severely affected as a large number of freights have not been able to move from their ports, which has directly resulted in a significant increase in the cost of shipping.
“In some of the richest countries in the world, shelves are empty for Christmas this year. That is what is happening worldwide,” Minister Singh said.
Nevertheless, President Ali reiterated to the Region Two farmers on Friday, mostly rice producers, that his Administration will continue to work with them to address the issues that are currently facing the industry.
This commitment comes days after the Head of State and his Agriculture Minister met with rice millers from Regions Two and Five (Mahaica-Berbice), who are facing difficulties and are unable to meet financial obligations such as payments to banks.
As a result, the President ordered Ministers Mustapha and Singh along with Attorney General Anil Nandlall, SC, to meet with the banks and the millers in order to resolve the issue.
President Ali went on to tell the Pomeroon-Supenaam farmers on Friday that he had been proactive in his visits to the region via a Cabinet outreach and a presidential outreach, subsequently.
He said that since his last visit in September, the Government has been able to resolve more than 120 land issues and more than 100 National Insurance Scheme (NIS) issues.
“You raised issues about passport office; we established a full passport office here. Since it has been established, it has received 229 applications, and we have already processed 221,” he highlighted.
Once again, President Ali also took time on Friday to answer questions and resolve issues that the farmers raised on the spot.
Meanwhile, the following day, Minister Singh held a NIS outreach at the entity’s office in Anna Regina to address citizens’ concerns and issues. (G8)