AS a concerned and middle class rice farmer I have been closely following the developments within the rice industry, particularly the non payment/delayed payment of rice farmers by the overseas- based company, Mahaicony Rice Limited (MRL). This overseas company is taking farmers for a ride and it must come to an abrupt end as the rice industry has grown over the past three years, with its highest ever growth recorded last year and the negligence by MRL to pay farmers should not thwart further expansion of a thriving and competitive industry.
The challenge to get MRL to pay farmers is overwhelming due to numerous legal implications. However, I am comforted by the concern and efforts by the Minister of Agriculture and his agencies to assist farmers to take legal and other actions against Mahaicony Rice Limited. Despite these efforts, the enforcement agencies needs to complement the efforts of the Ministry of Agriculture to ensure our hard working farmers are paid.
With over one decade in the rice industry, I have seen it grown from strength to strength despite global and other challenges. Today the rice industry is modern and competitive and the non-payment by MRL is hampering farmers from returning to the land in a timely manner to fully realize the potential of our farmers.
In closing, I would like to make an appeal to the management/owners of MRL to disengage itself from unethical business practices and pay farmers. Alternatively, we the farmers will work along with the Ministry of Agriculture and its agencies to take legal and other action to ensure farmers are fully paid for paddy already supplied. Also, I would like to encourage the Ministry of Agriculture to suspend the milling licence of MRL until such time farmers are fully paid for paddy supplied to the company and sold to foreign markets