Ramsammy urges emphasis on accessing new rice markets

MINISTER of Agriculture, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy has said production in the rice sector has shown continued improvements, with prices paid to farmers ranging between $3,500 and $4,000 per bag of paddy.
He said accessing new markets will improve those prices.According to him: “The challenge going forward is that Guyana has a presence in markets that are paying a certain price for rice. We have to enter new markets where the prices are more competitive.”
He maintained that the “markets are there” and, once Guyana manages to enter these, the farmers can see better prices.
Ramsammy pointed out that a three-pronged approach is being taken to increase exports in the rice sector; increasing the market share in countries that have agreements with Guyana; re-entering old markets where the country once had meaningful presence and securing new markets.
He stated that efforts are underway to have not only Venezuela but Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, as well as countries in Europe, review existing agreements for paddy and rice exports.
Bigger shares
The minister explained that the Caribbean countries and Venezuela currently import rice from other countries, apart from Guyana and there is an opportunity to secure bigger shares in those existing markets.
He noted, too, that, in the case of Haiti, since the earthquake that devastated that nation’s capital, much of the rice entering the country was in the form of aid.
But, with the country, again, in a position to purchase its rice, Guyana can take advantage of that market.
According to him, Guyana is talking to several other countries to secure new export agreements.
General Secretary of the Rice Producers Association (RPA), Mr. Dharamkumar Seeraj also weighed in on the issue, maintaining that focus should remain on continuously improving the prices farmers can be paid.
He said, as the situation stands, the prices currently paid are better than those some rice exporters in other countries receive.
“Buyers want quality and reliability of supply and, while reliable supplies can be a challenge, because of factors such as weather, Guyana can deliver,” Seeraj contended.
The 2013 production of 535,212 tonnes was far above the original target of 413,000 tonnes and reflects a 27 per cent increase over that of 2012.
The average production is five tonnes per hectare.
In 2011, the rice sector surpassed the 400,000 tonnes mark for the first time in history and did so, again, in 2012 when it went over the 2011 production.
Of the 2013 production, some 370,000 tonnes were exported and raked in $224M, the highest export recorded for the sector.

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