A shipment of more than 5000 tons of rice was dispatched to Venezuela on Monday, bringing the total amount sent to that country to just over 153,000 metric tons for the year.
Venezuela is the largest importer of rice from Guyana.
Agriculture Minister Dr Leslie Ramsammy and the Guyana Rice Development Board General Manager Jainarine Singh inspect the rice shipment at the John Fernandes Wharf in Georgetown
Agriculture Minister Dr Leslie Ramsammy, who witnessed the loading of the rice at the John Fernandes Wharf, said he will work towards ensuring that the Venezuelan market continues to grow. He intends to work with the Guyana Rice Development Board, the Rice Producers Association, millers and farmers to aid in that process.
The export of rice so far for the year has exceeded 277,000 tons, and Guyana has reaped more than US$ 157 million. Other countries that import rice from Guyana are Jamaica, Trinidad, and the European Union (EU) nations, with Jamaica importing almost 46,000 tons; Trinidad, more than 20,000 tons; and the EU almost 50,000 tons of rice so far for the year.
“Guyana produced more than 400,000 tons of rice in 2010 and is on track to surpass this amount in 2011. In 2010, Guyana earned more than US$ 154 million in rice export. So far for 2011, Guyana has earned more than US$ 157 million, and this year is likely to be a record setting year for rice earnings,” a release from the Agriculture Ministry stated.
Minister Ramsammy believes that rice production here will increase, thereby giving rise to an increase in export earnings. The minister has been working with all stakeholders to ensure that production is upped and conditions are appropriate to allow rice farmers to complete land preparation and to begin sowing.
