Ramsammy declares long wait for payment unacceptable
MINISTER of Agriculture, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy said, Thursday, it is unacceptable for rice farmers to wait months for millers to pay them for their produce without interest. He was responding to a question, by Senior Field Officer of the Rice Producers Association (RPA), Mr. Showkat Ally, at Anna Regina on the Essequibo Coast.
Ramsammy said the problem of millers owing farmers for long periods, is totally unacceptable, especially to those at the grassroots level, who have invested their hard earned money to cultivate their fields.
He acknowledged the efforts made to resolve the problem but assured that his ministry will engage Cabinet to find solutions to the vexing issue of millers taking too long to pay rice farmers.
Ramsammy called on his officers to ensure that, at the end of the day, farmers who have invested their hard earned money to cultivate their lands must not be left to suffer for payment when their crop is sold.