Seeraj encouraging rice farmers to develop own facilities
GENERAL Secretary of the Rice Producers’ Association (RPA), Mr. Dharamkumar Seeraj has advocated that, while Government has made significant investments to support them, farmers should take the initiative and develop their own facilities, particularly storage capacity.
His urging coincides with the near end of harvesting when close attention is being paid to drying and storing and he said there are innovative ways to go about the latter.
“Similar efforts are being made in different places, in China, for example,” Seeraj said, noting that that country produces some 190 million tons of paddy annually, most of which is, traditionally, processed at the township level by up to 100,000 mills, using creative mechanisms to store the grains.
He said 14 drying floors have been built, to date; another is currently being constructed at Yakusari, Black Bush Polder, Corentyne, Berbice and one more is expected to be sited at Wakenaam island, along the Essequibo River.
Earlier this month, Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud commissioned one that cost $14.2M at the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) Rice Research Sub-Station, at Lesbeholden, also in Black Bush Polder.
The undertaking is intended to make farmers less reliant on millers and help them to be in a better bargaining position for the best paddy prices.
Seeraj said: “A drying floor has the capacity to dry about 300 bags of paddy and the construction of drying floors is stage one of a larger plan.”
He said the floors are large enough to accommodate storage and that is additional support for rice farmers.
Seeraj explained that, once the financial resources are available, the drying floor locations will be fenced and storage facilities added, with the possibility of mechanical dryers to be added later.
However, acknowledging that financial resources are limited, he reiterated his encouragement for farmers to develop their drying and storage capacity.
Seeraj observed that such undertakings will bolster efforts being made by some millers, who have been upgrading their facilities to enhance their drying and storage capacity, an encouraging sign for the sector.
The Guyana Chronicle contacted one of the farmers in Region Five (Mahaica/Berbice) who is using a drying floor there and he is grateful for the assistance.
Mr. Satrohan Persaud said, having access to it, reduces the necessity to use the public road for the purpose.
“This is more convenient and there would not be the risk of accidents or things like that,” he remarked.
According to him, the extra capacity is welcome, especially in light of the fact that his cultivation is over 460 acres.
RPA Extension Officer in that Region, Mr. Frank Bassoodeo reported that approximately 65 farmers use the one drying floor in Region Five.