Seeking to allay fears, Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha on Saturday told rice farmers in Black Bush Polder that the paddy price will remain at $65,000 per tonne based on an assurance given to him by millers after the government reduced the commission they pay to the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) by US$2 and slashed the scanning fee by 50%.
Mustapha yesterday met rice farmers, who had been protesting the reduction of the paddy price for three days, at Yakusari and Lesbeholden, where they also highlighted the rise in costs for fertiliser, fuel and labour.
