– points to lack of proper systems
Calling for a stakeholder-driven overhaul of the rice sector, AFC Chairman Khemraj Ramjattan says securing first priority in the region and ensuring better access to capital are among the immediate policies that need to be considered to help farmers increase profitability.
Khemraj Ramjattan
According to Ramjattan, recent months have highlighted the mismanagement of the rice sector, ranging from a “lack of a properly maintained system” of drainage and irrigation to a “limp and ineffectual” lobby to procure a first priority of our rice within the regional market. He said these problems have been compounded by a conscious attempt by the governing PPP/C administration to remove democracy from the Rice Producers Association (RPA). As a result, rice farmers from Corentyne to Essequibo, he said, are currently faced with the burdens of low paddy prices and general unprofitability of their crop. “The overhauling of the entire system is what is required, with the major voice as to what that overhaul should be, coming from farmers and millers through an authentic and genuinely representative RPA,” he declared.
Recently, President Bharrat Jagdeo announced that government would set aside $400 million to assist the sector, after meeting with farmers. Jagdeo described the situation as very difficult for the farmers based on the high cost of inputs, the difficulties they have with some millers and the prices that are currently available for paddy. The President said he had asked the RPA to hold consultations with farmers across the country to determine the best modes of utilizing these resources that will bring short-term relief while also ensuring that some of the problems the industry currently faces could be addressed in a more definitive, long-term manner.
Ramjattan said the AFC looked at the promise with some suspicion, saying there is no certainty as to the status of the money, which has not yet been approved by Parliament. “Right now it is a mere commitment to the farmers who are giving the government no ends of trouble with protests countrywide and a major litigation in the High Court,” he said. “So it might just be a soft-sop pronouncement to temporarily appease a rising number of discontents.” He added that there has also not been any concrete proposal as to how this money will be distributed and it is very clear that rice farmers who need immediate assistance will not see any of the money in the near future.
In this context, Ramjattan outlined the AFC’s proposals for new policies, which he said would form the pillar for a fuller realization of the potential of the sector and increased profitability. He noted the need for Guyana to regain the respect within Caricom as a reliable supplier of a quality product. To this end, he emphasized the need to bring to a halt what he dubbed the “misconduct” of the Government of Guyana in not complying with rules of trade concerning goods from Caricom, like cement, citing the recent ruling of the CCJ. “How can we ask Trinidad to buy our rice when we do not want to buy that country’s cement? So as we go outside of the region for our cement, so too will other Caricom countries go outside for rice,” he explained. He added that a plan to work on Brazil’s need for rice by looking at options in Region Nine should be developed.
Ramjattan also pointed to the need for better access to capital through the establishment of an Agricultural Development Bank, saying that it will not only be for rice farmers but all spheres of agricultural activity including fishery, livestock, and animal farming. He also urges support for the World Bank Proposal on Agricultural Insurance, explaining that Guyana needs to increase agricultural competitiveness and such instruments could provide a sustainable market mechanism.
At the same time, he identified roles for the National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI) and the University of Guyana to ensure production of disease-resistant varieties and generic planting material to ensure less dependence on imported pesticides, weedicides and fertilizers.
Value-added products like rice cereals, flakes, and flour, he said, with an attendant cultivation of culture to eat what we produce, also need to be explored.
Ramjattan also emphasised the need to upgrade various domestic market venues, including those at Stabroek, Bourda, Mon Repos, and La Penitence to more farmer friendly consumer markets. He noted that they are all deplorable with substandard facilities even though government has awarded construction contracts over the years.
Well said praks, we need to get to finished products and diversify the industry by removing the barriers for companies to do business in Guyana and set up shop there.
Too many hurdles, I still cannot believe in this day and age that the GRA is demanding TAX revenue from a transaction based on a contract and not a transaction of money exchanging hands.
These kind of backwards policies will drive businesses away.
The only thing Ramjattan knows about rice is when it is in his plate,,,Push your nose in things that you know well my friend, You are a qualified Criminal Lawyer, stay in the justice system…Ensure that when lawyers take people’s money to defend them they attend court to speed up the backlog of cases…
Ramjattan urges rice sector overhaul????
Ramjattan bai you must not let your secret out to the Guyanese Public in a news paper like this.Every one will know.
SN cant keep secrets.
You should have run off to your favorite place called the US Embassy.
Yes you go there and tell em this and not tell this to SN.
Better Ramjattan run to the US embassy than to roger khan house as your boy Ramsammy has been reported visiting several times eh?
your response makes no sense what so ever to the subject matter.Is this is what afc done to its most favored supporter?
Looks like you now trying to lump your main man Ramjattan to Roger and Ramsammy……..Try something else…..you said it..you wrote it…not me….
I have been saying for the longest while that the governments conventional, textbook approach and formulations are all wrong and misdirected. It worked for a while but that was when the world held to a more balanced system of trade.
Today, it is a dog eat dog free for all and third world underdeveloping countries will continue to underdevelop if they continue to depend on petroleum based products to increase their production.
The farming soils all over the world are now totally depleted. That is why scientists are scrambling to genetically modify our crops to produce more and more. It is a crop slavery system that violates the laws of nature and nature is signalling us to stop, I am not going to take it anymore, but no one is listening to this living, breathing, intelligent, organism called mother earth. They are only looking to make a profit out of token gestures concerning climate change and care.
I had presented on SN the E-Book “One straw Revolution” by Masanobu Fukuoka. Did any of these guys read the book?
Throwing money at the problem is not going to solve it, because the money is borrowed in the first place. With the drying up of world wide credit, the commodity traders will attempt to get their resources at nearest to zero cost. They have already started to commoditize sugar, so look for a spike in sugar prices. Now do not get carried away, it is not because the world needs more sugar, it is because of the ability of these smart traders to wrap their grandmothers in sexy thights and sell her as sweet sugar on the worlds trade markets.
An agriculture bank. Now where does the money come from? We need to look at the broader picture here again. The Brazilian Real currency is developing strength on world markets, we need to encourage the Brazilians to set up one of their local branches in Guyana. Of course we also need to carefully manage the money system because the entity that controls the countries money supply controls the country regardless of its laws.
Guyana need experts that can spot emerging trends and changes and set up systems that are versatile enough to adopt to these changes.
The only constant in this universe is change. From the way the Guyana government is running things, I get the impression that they are not aware of this simple truth. Is it possible for someone to pass this simple message over to them?
Below is a link to information on the One Straw Revolution.
http://www.onestrawrevolution.net/
Joe.
The Guyana Government has unwaveringly contributed to support the rice industry as the industry continues to be a major export earner and rice itself is our staple diet. In order to counteract price instability and to offset high input costs, certain niches in this industry needs to be developed and modernised on a number of fronts whereby I suggest the industry needs a significant inflow of foreign direct investment. Imagine the potential savings and hence returns on investment that can be generated by simply installing silos in a modern rice paddy processing facility. Although the domestic industry has had capricious dealings with foreign investors such as Alesie, we need high profile investors in this industry that Guyana has the credentials to attract.
Now that Ramjattan cant play politics with skeldon sugar factory he trying something with rice, maybe he only knows about rice in his plate, leave rice to rice farmers.
This man will try anything to exaggerate his importance. Nothing new here. Just ignore him like everyone else in Guyana does.
Words of The Preacher. ” To everything, there is a time and season.” The time for commercial rice and sugar culitvation in Guyana, is over. Their cultivation should be done on a smaller scale for domestic consumption. The only reason why the government keeps beating these two dead horses, is to satisify its political base. Joe. It’s no longer dog eat dog, it’s man eat man. Dogs have emancipated themselves a long time ago.
Soldier, evileyes, coolieman, you mean there is nothing of substance to say in regard to how well the rice sector is managed by the Gov’t, other than throwing insults and making character attacks?
Gerhard,,,The rice sector is not run by Mr Rahman who is a mouth piece for the AFC…It is run by Mr Seeraj so when you and your AFC can get it right then you can return….
I have no idea what you mean by this statement: “The rice sector is not run by Mr Rahman who is a mouth piece for the AFC…It is run by Mr Seeraj so when you and your AFC can get it right then you can return….”
My point was, and remains, none of you I named, and now adding lambada and csingh, haven’t added anything of substance to the discussion. You continue to simply attack Mr. Ramjattan. Is that more important than coming up with solutions for the rice sector that is obviously beset with problems?
Can any of you critique the solutions offered by the AFC? I keep saying the AFC is a young party willing to listen.
Ger
yea i have lots to say about rice…i just had sweet rice wid raisins and man oh how om good mmmm mmmm…
what else Ramjattan and you have to offer?
I have some chocolate pudding for you cack eye……hmmm yum yum i know how you like eating that stuff..
Ramjattan, leave the rice sector alone. It is the AFC that needs overhauling. You men came out swinging now, made people think there was hope, now you all gone cold and letting the PPP get away with mashing up Guyana. You just like Corbin, the PNC and GAP/ROAR. All the opposition leaders looking out for themselves, getting duty free vehicles and don’t care a damn about the poor. Go overhaul the opposition them come back and talk about overhauling rice. If you hurry your rice overhaul plan can catch the spring crop.
Raj, I cannot argue with you in terms of your frustration. Those of us here are even more frustrated. As you may have noticed from these blogs I would be the last person to say the AFC is perfect. I repeat, I do not see the AFC as the be all and end all. The effort toward a better Guyana will take all of us.
On the specific issue of the rice sector here, if our recommendations are implemented, and it truly doesn’t matter by whom, I see it benefiting everyone, including the poor. If you agree that all Guyanese stand to benefit, and further that the sector does need reform, then please share your ideas toward that.
I BET MY LAST DOLLAR IS TROTY SENDING YOU TO THE RICE PPL TO SEE IF HE CAN GET SOME VOTES THEN HE WILL KICK YOU LIKE GOMATTIE.BETTER OPEN YOU EYES.
oooooooo poor Gumattie Singh…..
she must be laughing at how afc grabbing at straws now…
this Gumattie thing will live with them forever…the afc bruck up even before it started…
You PPP boys begging now eh, you begging to see the AFC bruk up. Not happenin buy another lottery ticket and watch de money go into OP and disappear like the bermuda triangle.
these pee pee pee people always trying to intimidate bloggers. why don’t they go on the chronicle see if they will be tolerated.
Instead of misleading farmers with empty talk, this micro minority should be leading his own personal overhaul in the fields planting rice.