– Seeraj
RICE Producers’ Association (RPA) General Secretary, Mr. Dharamkumar Seeraj has announced that harvesting of the crop, already commenced, will be intensified by the third week of this month.
He said reaping started in Region Two (Pomeroon/Supenaam) and will start at Leguan in Region Three (West Demerara/Essequibo Islands) by week end.
However, Regions Five (Mahaica/Berbice) and Six (East Berbice/Corentyne) are expected to follow soon and continue through October,” Seeraj said.
He reported that, in Region Two, a bag of paddy is fetching between $2,600 and $3,500 but, depending on the grade, prices could increase and range from $3,000 lowest.
Seeraj pointed out that paddy supplies to the Venezuelan market will earn more.
According to him, last season, a number of mills, as well as two farmers with the capacity to process their paddy, were involved in supplying Venezuela.
He encouraged farmers to build capacity so that they can access more lucrative markets.
Last month Guyana clinched a second agreement with that neighbouring republic to deliver US$38M worth of paddy and white rice.
Seeraj said, though, that weather is another major factor but the RPA is hoping it would be good, as anything else will cause a lot of hardship.
He explained bad weather will hinder rehabilitation of dams and, by extension, the harvest.
Seeraj said, over the last month, such work has been significantly affected and the execution was delayed.