HARVESTING of the present rice crop has started in Region 2, where farmers are making full use of the hot and sunny weather.

In  Region 2, while harvesting has not begun in the central parts of the Essequibo Coast, the exercise is moving apace in the southern sections and  farmers there have reported harvesting an average of 35 bags per acre. Some 31,500 acres are expected to be harvested without much difficulty in this region.
We cannot and must not take this lightly. Editor, it is prudent to draw to your attention the recent revelation by rice farmers that millers are engaged in low prices, under-grading and high-fixing of moisture and dockage causing the farmers to lose weights and bags for their paddy sold.
The farmers have thus passed a resolution at a meeting calling on the government to reintroduce qualified officers of the Guyana Rice Producers Association (GRPA) and Quality Control officers from the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) at each buying centre. The analysis of rice farmers costs indicated that many producers were at least breaking even with their production cost at the going paddy price of G$14,000-Extra A-G$13,900,A,G$13,800,B,G$13,700 C Grades per bag.
However, some farmers were not recovering their total costs below C grades. Rice cultivation is pursued by farmers at several levels – as a tireless job and as a commercial venture. Whatever the level of production, the ultimate goal has always been to maximise the profit effort. At present, the rice industry can hardly escape the vagaries of the millers; there is therefore need for intelligent and skilful policies to be implemented to facilitate the transition and a restructuring process for the industry, so the farmers can be protected and safeguarded from exploitation.
This trend, which was non-uniform, has had more consequences for rice farmers than others. The implications over the years, for the farmers were quite serious indeed. Producers will have to expect that these low prices will soon be translated into their profits and will inevitably threaten their livelihoods. The consequences of these declining prices are already being felt and many farmers are expected to reduce their production areas.