I would like to share my views regarding rice millers not paying hardworking dedicated rice farmers for the paddy already milled and exported, whilst millers in numerous cases would have received payments. Millers are taking rice farmers for granted and the time is coming closer where relevant authorities will start jailing millers of their unscrupulous business ethics. For too long millers have been getting away with murder. As far as I am aware, the very same Rice Factories Act which has been amended and updated by the Minister of Agriculture in Parliament will put many of them away and out of business. Only time will tell which is approaching closer.

The Mahaicony Rice Mill Ltd should be ashamed to call in the police when rice farmers in Black Bush Polder protested for monies owed to them. The high handedness of millers must cease and equally important, farmers need to conduct their activities in a businesslike manner to ensure definite arrangements with millers.

Once proper arrangements are executed with millers the relevant authorities such as the GRDB and the RPA will have more to act upon and support farmers to exert pressure on millers via the courts to take legal action to ensure payment as agreed. But in most instances, I know my fellow farmers would not go this path. I would also like to point out that the arrangement between farmers and millers are private. Hence, farmers need to safeguard their rights and ensure clear cut arrangements.

To my fellow rice farmers how long would we allow wicked millers to go unpunished while they use our monies to finance their operations and enjoy luxuries. Let us resolve to be disjoining and work together along with the government, particularly the Ministry of Agriculture and other  support agencies showing a keen interest to eradicate this scourge that rice farmers are facing.  Government has already made numerous interventions, let us do our part to ensure the sustainability of the rice sector, which for many of us is the sole means of earning a living.