Mexico is to establish protocols under which the Guyana Rice Development Board can enable paddy exports to that country.
This was one of the outcomes of a meeting yesterday between Agriculture Minister Noel Holder and senior executives of the Mexican Rice Council, GINA reported
Mexico is one of the countries that Guyana has been eying for paddy sales in the wake of the loss of the Venezuelan rice market. Since the initial phase of negotiations, GINA said yesterday that Guyana has been tasked with providing information which was required to conduct a Pest Risk Analysis. This analysis was positively reviewed according to Pedro Schettino, President of the Mexican Rice Council.
“Guyana has since completed all submissions and responded to all queries made by the Mexican Government. We are satisfied and would like to take this matter now to a successful conclusion”, he said.
The Agriculture Minister expressed satisfaction on behalf of the government while underscoring the importance of Guyana accessing new rice markets.
“Government no longer buys produce or sets prices. In the past, price control led to the destruction of agriculture in Guyana as such the Ministry of Agriculture is taking the value-chain approach and wants farmers to be a part of this,” he said.
GINA said that the government is presently pursuing rice markets in Panama, Haiti and The Bahamas.
GINA added that the objective of the meeting was to ensure that Guyana commences supply to the Mexican market; reduces delays in delivery, and addresses other related issues of the rice trade.
Sources say the price at which Mexico would possibly take rice or paddy would be the next major focus. Millers and farmers would be looking for a price that provides a reasonable margin.
