Dear Editor,
The PPP has damaged the rice industry by placing square pegs in round holes to manage the affairs of the rice farmers and the country. There should be a total restructuring of the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) from top to bottom. Some officers used their positions to make money off the sweat and blood of the poor rice farmers who were toiling under harsh and back-breaking methods of production. The coalition government must stop this political jockeying in the GRDB and allow for the greater participation of farmers now that a fresh wind of democracy is blowing across Guyana,
I have noticed that the General Secretary of Guyana Rice Producer’s Association (RPA) is very active protesting with his colleagues now that the 2015 elections are over, against a freely elected government. The rice farmers have had so many grievances since 1992, yet he couldn’t take time off to protest with them against the millers. All he did was pay lip service. The newly elected Minister of Agriculture would need the input of a farmers’ organization to help him identify problems facing the rice industry.
Now is the time for the Essequibo Paddy Producer’s Association which has the largest bloc of rice farmers’ supporting it, to get their organization registered and hold an election for office bearers, since the RPA is an arm of the PPP and never represented farmers in Region Two in terms of their grievances. The institution is dominated by millers and yes men. Farmers’ issues are often swept under the rug and are often an underlying cause of conflict, especially in protracted crises, and are therefore central to planning a response. Yet the General Secretary of the RPA largely neglected the wider issues like grades, weight, moisture, dockage and payment on the basis that they are too complex and politically sensitive.
The Essequibo Paddy Producer’s Association should see the need for high level, integrated thinking about the issues that will affect them, all the way from late payment for their paddy, a fair grading system, and the weight of their produce. Action must be swift; there is a certain urgency to meet with the Minister of Agriculture, because of the challenges faced in the rice industry and the non-payment for last crop as well as previous paddy payments. And they need to find a long-term solution to their problems. The Agriculture Minister needs to understand that restoring pride to the industry is not just a big expense, it’s an important investment that will yield returns for generations to come.
During PPP rule some unscrupulous officers and millers were the dominant and authoritative components in the rice industry. The rice farmers were always oppressed and caught in an inescapable net of exploitation; this must change now. At the moment sowing of the new rice crop has begun and the farmers are still owed for last paddy crop.
Our new government must take a dispassionate look at this issue and meet urgently with the millers who owed these farmers and see that they are paid promptly for their produce. Government has a crucial role in restructuring the board to promote the industry which was totally neglected by those who were put there to manage the affairs of the state. There is therefore need for intelligent and skilful policies to be implemented to facilitate the transition and a restructuring process for the industry. As the government assumes office, the reality is that rough times are ahead. They were given a basket to fetch water.
Guyana has to expand its rice markets and export levels with a higher quality of rice and paddy; then it will get the assurance of having preference access to overseas markets. The opposition was only concentrating on the Venezuelan barter trade: oil for paddy and rice. However, recent changes in price for poor quality rice and paddy could eliminate, or at least sharply reduce, Guyana’s continued preferential access to this market after the contract comes to an end. These growing uncertainties will sharply reduce the price for paddy purchased by millers for this coming rice crop.
I suggest that this new government bring back Mr Beni Sankar to head the CRA. He has a lot of experience in rice, paddy and marketing, and could help revive the rice industry. In fact he has served in this capacity before as President for GRMEDA and chairman of the Caribbean Rice Association. Mr Brian Greenidge who is at the Guyana School of Agriculture should be the General Manager of the GRDB; Walter Matadial could head Extension Services.
Yours faithfully,
Mohamed Khan
