PEOPLE’S Progressive Party (PPP) officials of the Rice Producers Association (RPA) and others from the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) met with scores of farmers at Anna Regina Seed Bond on Wednesday to discuss the current crop being harvested and paddy prices.

GRDB General Manager, Mr. Jagnarine Singh told the gathering that its Quality Control Manager, Ms. Allison Peters will be in Region Two (Pomeroon/Supenaam) for several days and would check on rice mills that are purchasing paddy.
Singh said GRDB will always be available to help farmers and solve their problems and he assured them that the Mahaicony Rice Mills (MRM), which owes planters millions of dollars for paddy bought more than two years ago will not be given licence to operate until the last farmer owed, is fully paid.
The Farmers Group, which purchased the grains last crop, is now closed and is not in business any longer. A member of it, named Seecharran, however, assured that money owed would be paid within another two weeks.
The GRDB General Manager called on farmers to ensure that there is proper documentation as required when selling their paddy so that the laws can be implemented concerning payments.
General Secretary, Mr. Dharamkumar Seeraj told farmers that several initiatives by the RPA, GRDB and the government have led to farmers being paid by MRM. He said the government took $400M and paid farmers.
Serious headaches
According to him, there are problems with two foreign owned companies in the country that have caused serious headaches concerning payment to farmers but MRM and Alesie are on their way out.
Farmers also raised several other issues, including the export of paddy and rice to overseas markets and payment for their produce purchased by millers.
Some farmers said millers are offering different prices, with which they are not pleased, for paddy.
Region Two Chairman, Mr. Parmanand Persaud, who also attended the meeting, reported that the administration is grading and levelling access dams so farmers can transport their paddy quickly.
He gave the assurance that he would work in their interest to develop the rice industry which is the heart of Region Two.
Harvesting is in full swing on the Essequibo Coast.