Rice roared again in 2015

Rice production boomed again in 2015 following impressive harvests the last few years, however, the value of rice exports decreased by over US$37.6 million, a drop of 15 per cent from 2014, mostly owing to the loss of the Venezuela market and its preferential price.

According to the Minister of Agriculture, Noel Holder the value of exports from January to December of this year was US$211.8 million compared to US$549.5 million in 2014.

Speaking at his ministry’s year-end press conference on Wednesday, Holder called rice a success story noting that up to December 16, paddy production was