Govt will not directly market rice – Holder insists amid growing concerns

Agriculture Minister Noel Holder made it clear that the A Partnership for National Unity/ Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Administration will not get involved in the direct marketing of rice, insisting that it is a job for the millers themselves.

This is contrary to what the coalition had promised in its Elections Manifesto 2015. Specifically, under Chapter Five: Production, Transformation and Economic Diversification, under the subheading relating to the rice industry, it is boldly printed that “The APNU/AFC coalition will… Immediately initiate a sustainable Rice Sector support programme which would include…the negotiation of additional new international markets for rice from Guyana”.

But during a telephone interview with this newspaper on Monday, Holder firmly stated, “This Administration is trying not to get involved in the direct marketing of rice. When you get involved in these things you cause a pile of confusion.”

“We will help to secure markets but we won’t go and negotiate the markets,” he added, noting that this responsibility will be left up to the millers.

Holder maintained, however, that this position was not a contradiction of the manifesto promise.

He said Government would be assisting in finding markets but when it came to negotiation and other aspects of marketing, the millers will have to pull their own strings.

According to the Minister, through the Foreign Affairs Ministry, there will be a Foreign Trade Department which will be tasked with the responsibility of initiating a forum for foreign purchasers to meet with Guyanese millers. From there, once the foreign purchaser agrees to have discussions with the Guyanese millers, the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) will coordinate meetings and then it will be up to the millers to convince the buyer to purchase from their company.

Only recently, President David Granger announced that millers must find their own markets.

Some millers across Guyana have partially agreed with the President, but pointed out that Government simply cannot run away from the responsibilities it has to the rice industry.

However, many are still urging the Government to play a bigger role in helping them secure lucrative rice deals.

Currently, the rice industry is going through a challenging period, with limited available markets for the bumper crop and the virtual collapse of the Venezuelan market. Farmers are concerned about the future of the industry.

But while stakeholders understand that the millers will have to pull their own weight, they believe the governing administration must play a bigger role than it is willing to play.

Jinnah Rahman, Chairman of the Rice Producers Action Committee of the Guyana Rice Producers Association, previously indicated that Government should be involved in the negotiating process.

Rahman told this newspaper that Government needed to establish grounds for better dialogue during negotiations. Additionally, he pointed out that Government will need to form a crucial part of these negotiations to offer free trade agreements and tax waivers so as to attract buyers to Guyana.

Similar views were also expressed by former GRDB Chairman Nigel Dharamlall; Guyana Millers and Exporters Marketing Association Chairman, Dr Peter De Groot and Head of the Alesie Group of Companies, Dr Turhane Doerga.