THE Rice Factories Acts under the control of the Ministry of Agriculture and the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) are the dominant and authoritative agencies to oversee the prompt payment for rice farmers’ products. The landlords, moneylenders, businessmen, the board, the Ministry of Agriculture and the unscrupulous rice millers are all taking advantages during this oppressive period of exploitation against the poor rice farmers. However, it was said that a strong wind of change by the Rice Factories Acts will protect the rice industry, particularly the small rice farmers who are toiling under harsh and back –breaking conditions.
The millers during the last crop agreed to pay a fee to compensate the farmers so the future would be brightened for the farmers’ families. Instead they were caught in an inescapable net of exploitation.
The introduction of subsidies on many items etc. fertilisers and cash relief were given to the wrong people who don’t own an inch of rice land in Region 2.
The Board may revoke or suspend a licence where the holder thereof commits a breach of any of the terms and conditions of the licence or contravenes any of the provisions of the Rice Factories Act or any regulations made thereunder. No person shall sell, purchase or receive padi for the manufacture of rice, except at a price calculated on a bag of one hundred and forty-three pounds net or such other weight as may be prescribed by the Minister by order.
It doesn’t take rocket science to know how the growing uncertainties and falling farm prices have alarmed policy makers in Guyana.
Guyana can effectively compete in the world rice market without preferential treatment. Comparisons were made of the supply cost of milled rice and cargo rice from Guyana versus the U.S and Vietnam. From report findings, the CET of 25% provided good protection against U.S rice imports to the Caribbean, but not against imports from Vietnam with the present cost structure of Guyanese rice.