Essequibo rice farmers getting more for Venezuela exports
RICE Producers’ Association (RPA) General Secretary, Mr. Dharamkumar Seeraj told scores of farmers on Essequibo Coast yesterday that they are likely to receive an increase in the price paid for paddy purchased, from this crop, to be exported to Venezuela. Addressing them in the Anna Regina Seed Bond, he said the RPA and Guyana Rice Development Board are asking the Venezuelan Government to raise the price per ton of paddy from US$240 to US$480 or US$500.
Seeraj said the Guyana Government is empowering farmers by giving them the opportunity to export their own paddy from Essequibo Coast to the neighbouring republic so they can benefit more financially.
Last harvest, most of the paddy grown on Essequibo Coast went to Venezuela and the farmers were paid good prices and promptly for their produce.
Seeraj also assured farmers owed by Mahaicony Rice Mills (MRL), for paddy sold three crops ago, that they will he paid by Wednesday, March 9.
He said those to whom up to $3M is due will be fully paid while others owed more than that sum would get 50 per cent of the payment and the balance at the weekend.
Seeraj said MRL will only be granted an export licence if the debts to the farmers are fully paid.
He said the RPA will be putting measures in place to avoid another MRL situation and another miller, Wazir Hussein, who has also failed to pay four farmers, will be taken  to court with a view to levying on his property to recover the outstanding sums.
Discussions, involving the RPA and MRL, are to be undertaken over what miller Arnold Sankar owes some farmers, Seeraj said.