GUYANA is, currently, pushing to expand its rice markets abroad and, towards this objective, Agriculture Minister, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy had talks with authorities in Haiti last week.

As local production continues to reach record highs, he and Foreign Affairs Minister, Ms. Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett have been addressing the possibility of expanding some existing markets while also seeking additional ones.
Ramsammy told a media briefing in his ministry’s Regent Road, Georgetown boardroom, last Tuesday, that they are looking to expand rice production up to 450,000 tonnes this year.
Because Haiti is seeking to import more than 120,000 tonnes for its national use, this represents an opportunity for Guyana to find another strong market within the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).
During a previous interview with the state media, Ramsammy had advised that the industry has the potential to reach 500,000 tonnes  by 2015 and that amount could even be reached now had the immediate market been available.
A statement from the ministry said Guyana is on a trajectory to surpass the 2012 record this year and achieve 600,000 tonnes by 2020.
Major reasons
“This production possibility is largely due to two major reasons: firstly, improved farming techniques and better seed varieties which lead to improved yield per hectare and, secondly, more land being brought under cultivation,” the ministry explained in the statement.
It said that, with production likely to exceed 450,000 tonnes this year, Guyana must ensure consolidation of the existing markets and expansion into other markets.
It further disclosed that, last week, Ramsammy met with the Minister for Food Production in Trinidad to discuss closer collaboration on rice.
Ramsammy also had discussions with Jamaica’s Agriculture Minister, Mr. Roger Clarke, who was in Trinidad, as well, and is due to visit Venezuela in an effort to strengthen those existing markets.
Guyana exported approximately 330,000 and 350,000 tonnes of rice in 2011 and 2012, respectively. Its main importers presently are Venezuela, CARICOM and Europe.
Meanwhile, the statement noted that the price for Guyana’s rice has been a major incentive for famers to bring more land under cultivation.
“The international market, thus far, has seen stable rice prices but countries such as Vietnam has the production capacity to nudge prices downwards and the government of Guyana is looking carefully at what these countries are doing,” it said.
Can decrease
Ramsammy has cautioned farmers that they must bear in mind that the rice prices would not only continue to rise but can decrease.
However, the ministry has given the assurance that it will constantly monitor the world market prices and advise farmers on any price movement, whether upwards or downwards.
Nevertheless, it stated that there is nothing to fear in 2013 as all of the rice produced and available for export will be shipped to secure markets.
“The Ministry of Agriculture will work along with the Guyana Rice Marketing Board and the rice millers and farmers to ensure there are ready markets for Guyana’s rice,” the statement said.