Granger to address rice conference

Amid rising concerns over the rice industry with the looming end of a lucrative Venezuelan deal, President David Granger is on Monday expected to address paddy farmers and rice millers on the way forward.

GINA said that the President is scheduled to deliver the feature address at the opening of the National Rice Industry Conference to be held at the Arthur Chung International Convention Centre, Liliendaal, on Monday, July 27, 2015. He is also expected to outline Government’s plan for the rice industry.

GINA said that the Conference will be held under the theme, ‘Sustainable development amidst challenges’, and begins at 8:30am.

It added that one of the main areas of attention during the discussions will be on creating avenues and establishing other markets as well as ways of upping the quotas for export of Guyana’s rice, taking into account the imminent closing of the Guyana-Venezuela engagement.

Cost of production, yield variety, proper husbandry and research capacity are other areas which will be addressed in detail.

Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo and Minister of Agriculture, Noel Holder are expected to participate in the event. This conference to be facilitated by the Ministry of Agriculture, is one of the items listed on the APNU+AFC 100 Day plan, GINA said.