Gy$ 2.5B injection gives new hope to struggling Essequibo rice farmers

By Indrawattie Natram –

Scores of rice farmers on the Essequibo Coast who have benefited from a Gy$ 2.5 billion government support said the intervention has given them renewed hope as they return to their fields.
The farmers said despite the various challenges such as bug infestation and snail invasion, they have managed to overcome them, and are optimistic that the present autumn crop will be a bumper harvest.

The farmers also thanked the major stakeholders who worked assiduously in drafting the plan to alleviate their plight. Wazeer Hussain, a miller and farmer from Vilvoorden expressed his gratitude to the government in responding to the challenges of farmers at a time of much need.
Hussain, who cultivates 150 acres of rice, said the intervention/ assistance package came at a timely manner as it allowed him to return to his field.
The miller explained that with the assistance given to him by the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB), he was able to make payments to approximately 1000 farmers who sold paddy to his mill. He said without the timely intervention, he would have had to take an overdraft from the bank, and the interest rate would have been high.
He said he is also thankful to the GRDB officers for working in the interest of farmers and millers.
Hussain noted that the assistance package was calculated according to the amount of paddy sold to his mill and the percentage that is scheduled to be shipped to Venezuela.
The miller said with the assistance, he was able to pay off the farmers, purchase seed paddy, prepare his lands and move on with the crop.
Blooming crop
Hussain is finished sowing and his crop is blooming.
He is in the process of shipping paddy to Georgetown, which will later be transported to Venezuela.
Hussain did not suffer from the snail invasion, but noted that he will be keeping a keen eye on his rice crop.
Despite the major attack by paddy bugs in the first crop which triggered low prices, farmers have shown determination to cultivate their fields for the autumn crop.
Chate Narine, another farmer, from Paradise Village was also in high praise for the intervention.
“I’m thankful because I’ve been waiting a long time for the millers to accept my paddy then the delay of payment had me frustrated; however, I am happy with the intervention.”
Narine noted that although the quality of his paddy was low due to the high infestation of bugs; he is satisfied with the move by the government. The owner of 60 acres of land said he received 35 per cent of his payment from his miller.