– to help cussion the fallout from El Niño
REGION TWO (Pomeroon/Supenaam) farmers are to benefit from the $300M assistance programme announced by President Bharrat Jagdeo to cushion the effects of El Nino.
The amount allocated to them, according to Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Robert Persaud, is $23M. “Recognizing the difficulties that the El Nino condition would pose to farmers in general, Government has embarked on an assistance programme to help farmers move into the next crop,” he said.
“Out of the total package that was announced to bring relief to farmers, a significant amount of the resources will also be invested in the D&I, because the management of water supply is very critical,” he told Essequibo farmers during a meeting yesterday at the CV Nunes Primary School at Anna Regina on the Essequibo Coast.
The Minister, who was accompanied by senior technical officers of the Ministry and members of the Guyana Rice Development Board, said that during the El Nino Phenomenon, affected farmers have raised a number of concerns and recommendations which Government is currently incorporating into the Region’s programmes. This he says, will see further investment being made in water management through the Ministry’s National Drainage and Irrigation Authority.
“The management of the systems needs to be improved at the level of the Neighborhood Democratic Council, the Water Users Association and the region and we have looked very carefully at the situation so that the Region can be further developed,” he said.
Of the $23M assistance, support will be given through the provision of seed paddy to each affected farmer for every acre of land damaged in addition to fertilizers.
Cash crop farmers affected by El Nino will be given planting materials through the Guyana Agricultural Producers Association.
“We learnt that during the El Nino condition experienced some farmers believed that they were not treated fairly, while some believed that they were not adequate management at the local level and we have taken all those factors on board,”
“We have looked at the NDIA Act and we have found that there is a mechanism whereby we can establish in Region Two an independent authority that will report to the Region and the NDIA. This will allow farmers to have a direct input in this regard.”
An independent Board to manage Drainage and Irrigation needs in the Essequibo region would be established in June. The Board will have the oversight as it relates to the planning of all D&I work in the Region.
As part of its ongoing programme to improve agricultural development and support farmers, Minister Persaud said that plans are also in place to open up new areas for cultivation.

Price management

In relation to price management and timely payment to farmers, Minister Persaud while emphasizing the need for millers to pay farmers on time said that Government will continue to invest in the rice sector without any apology.
“While placing emphasis on infrastructure and D&I, we also have to work with the milling community to ensure that they treat farmers fairly, although we have passed a number of legislations and we are putting a lot of emphasis to ensure that their livelihoods are safeguarded.”
He noted that from time to time the administration has been criticized for investing in rice and paying too much attention to rice farmers.
“Rice is significant foreign exchangers, economic activity and a sub-sector within the Agricultural sector, so as part of our strategic development plan, there is a place for rice. But also there is a place for the new rice industry where it is regarded as modern, competitive and value-added,” he said.
Minister Persaud said that government is currently working with farmers to ensure good practices so that in time there will be better yields.

Government is currently looking at reducing the amount of paddy exported and increasing the amount of rice being exported. To date, 87 percent of rice has already been harvested for the first crop of the harvesting period.
Minister Persaud also used the opportunity to caution millers who are still lagging on payment, to do so in a timely manner or they will face the consequence of paying an increase after the 42-day grace period.
He said that the GRDB has been clamping down on millers who currently have outstanding payments to be met. However, they have undetaken to make such payments shortly.
Rice farmers are currently harvesting approximately 81 bags per hectares compared to 72 during the last crop and according to the Agriculture Minister, Government is currently looking at new market avenues to be explored. A revised agreement was recently signed with the Venezuelan counterpart.
“The original agreement was signed when the prices on the international market were lower than this crop and we were able to get the Venezuelan government to agree to a higher price which would see us exporting paddy at close to US$460 per tonne and as mush as US$700 per tonne of white rice.”
Government has been working assiduously to promote its Agriculture Diversification Programme which targets an increase in the export of non-traditional agricultural commodities and according to the Agriculture Minister, “We want our rice farmers to be part and parcel of that programme.”
Farmers were also urged to get involved in other activities such as aquaculture and small ruminants such as sheep and goats since they are also opportunities available. (GINA)