Citing high production costs, rice farmers across the country are still to be convinced that government’s recent announcement that they will be paid at least $4,000 per bag of paddy will bring any relief to them.
The farmers also said that given their understanding of the industry, government’s removal of the sales commission from rice exports will be to the benefit of millers and not farmers.
Last Saturday, government brokered an agreement with the Guyana Rice Millers and Exporters Association (GRMEA) which will see the export levy paid to the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) being lifted for the first crop of this year. This agreement will translate into millers having more cash at their disposal to purchase paddy at a higher price. An estimated US $1.5 million is returning to millers’ pockets under the deal.
