The prolonged El Nino dry conditions severely affected farmers, hence a $300M assistance package was announced by President Bharrat Jagdeo to support them. Of that total, $20M will be utilized to purchase seed paddy and fertilizers for residents of De Hoop, Mahaica, Region Four. This was announced by Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud who was accompanied by senior technical officers of the Ministry, members of the Guyana Rice Development Board and Rice Producers Association during a meeting with farmers recently, to discuss agriculture development and support to farmers in the Region.
“Across the country, we have started the recovery package to deal with the El Nino. Government has allocated $300M for the total efforts of rice, livestock, cash crop and hinterland food issues, part of an early recovery form of assistance,” he said.
Minister Persaud said that notwithstanding the El Nino phenomenon, rice production has not only remained stable, but has also increased. He was at the time making reference to Region Four, which recorded higher rice production than that for the first crop of last year.
“The acreages that have been cultivated too for this region are 20,000 more than the acreages for the first crop. This tells us that notwithstanding the constraint of dealing with the drought-like situation, we are able to ensure that the agriculture sector, in terms of production, does not fail; that is why we moved very quickly in terms of assisting and allowing you to move quickly into the next crop,” he said.
In addition, the Ministry has embarked on other interventions which include lifting embankments and constructing of canals and sluices. The interventions are aimed at creating alternative outlets for water to reduce the pressure on the Mahaica Creek.
As part of its ongoing programme to improve agricultural development and support farmers, Minister Persaud said plans are also in place to open up new areas for cultivation.
In relation to price management and timely payment to farmers, Minister Persaud emphasised the need for millers to pay farmers on time.
He promised that Government will continue to invest in the rice sector.
“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 on ensuring that their livelihoods are safeguarded.”
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 markets.
A revised agreement was recently signed with Venezuela for export of rice and paddy.
“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 much as US$700 per tonne of white rice.”
“Our vision of changing this country for the better will continue, and we will ensure that we realise that vision to the benefit of all our people and the development of this country,” Minister Persaud said. (GINA)