-Stakeholders from Support Organisations
Rice production occurs along the coastal belt of Guyana, utilizing about 176,000 acres of land per annum and the Industry is one of the country’s economic pillars, contributing approximately 20 percent of the agricultural Gross Domestic Products (GDP) and about 12 percent of export earnings. Guyana’s rice industry has the potential to advance the national economy and enhance the fortunes of the nation’s rural farming communities.
The general consensus among the sector’s stakeholders is that organised support, particularly in this participatory democratic nation, is important so that common ground can be found for all competing interests as the sector moves forward.
It is said that ‘Coming together is a beginning, keeping together is progress, and working together is success’; and according to the Guyana Rice Producers’ Association (RPA) General Secretary, Mr. Dharamkumar Seeraj, the agriculture sector needs organised representation for it to advance.
“In any category of economic activity there must be organisation so that multiple voices can be heard,” he said.
Seeraj explained that the RPA has been around since 1946, 64 years now, with the primary aim of addressing the issues of farmers by making representation at the relevant platforms.
“There is strength in numbers, particularly if it is organised,” he said.
RPA has proven itself to be, over the years, integral to the processes that have advanced the agriculture sector and made its mark through dedication to the pillars of the sector – the farmers.
Seeraj pointed out that RPA represents close to 6,000 rice farmers.
Established in 1946 the RPA’s primary aim is to promote and protect the interests of rice producers and is one of the oldest non-governmental organisations (NGO) in Guyana.
Seeraj said that RPA’s role centers on dealing with farmers in a holistic way; farming issues as well as social and developmental issues.
Aside from representation, RPA provides support by offering improved extension services.
The extension service is essentially expected to build partnerships and provide research-based information through non-formal education to farmers in order to help them improve their economic well-being and enhance their lifestyles.
Specifically, the programme aims to create conditions whereby farmers have access to appropriate and state of the art technologies and methods for efficient production on a sustainable basis; as well as identify and effectively transfer improved rice varieties and crop management practices that enable farmers to produce high and stable yields of rice.
The functions of extension services are also geared to provide technical production information to meet farmers’ needs; engage in off-station testing of new varieties, fertilizers, pesticides, water management practices and land preparation operations developed by the research station; work in collaboration with farmers identifying production problems and advising on corrective measures; and to provide field services in terms of   crop survey, reporting and distribution of seed paddy.
Also, RPA ensures that farmers benefit from its partnerships with entities such as the Caribbean Policy Development Centre (CPDC), the Caribbean Farmers Network (CaFan) and other agriculture societies in Barbados, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago, as well as Oxfam.
“We have very good working relations with these organisaitons…these institutions are over 100 years old,” he said, pointing to the valuable support that these entities have provided the RPA.