REGION 2, Chairman, Parmanand Persaud has assured scores of rice farmers on the Essequibo Coast that he is with them, and will work with all farmers to solve the problems they are currently facing. The farmers, all armed with placards demanding payments from millers for their paddy sold more than a month ago, staged a protest in front of the Rice Producers Association’s [RPA’s] Office at Anna Regina, calling on officials of the RPA and the GRDB to intervene in the matter of overdue payments for their rice, and low prices offered to them by millers. But as the protest continued on the road in front of the RPA office, the Regional Chairman managed to get all the farmers to meet with him in the Regional Boardroom, where he assured them that all the issues concerning the rice industry on the Essequibo Coast raised with him will be forwarded to His Excellency, President Donald Ramotar, the Ministry of Agriculture, the RPA and the GRDB.

Farmers took the opportunity to explain that when the crop started, millers were offering $4,000 for a bag of paddy, and they suddenly dropped the price to $1,500 and $1,000. Farmers are contending that with such low prices they cannot recultivate the land for the next crop.

Farmers complained that millers are using as a weapon against them the uncertainty of the Venezuela market, and are giving them low prices for their produce. Farmers also complained that millers are taking 200 pounds as the standard weight for a bag of paddy, because of moisture content. This, they said is robbing farmers and taking advantage of them.

One farmer said the matter was drawn to the attention of officers of the GRDB, but those officers said proof is needed to initiate investigation. Other farmers complained about the long delay to receive payment for produce sold to millers.

Farmers said it is more than a month since millers have taken their produce and they have not been paid for it. Farmers are calling for at least 25% of their payment, so they can go back to their fields and start preparing for the next crop. Farmers said they need their money urgently.

Female farmer Pamela Naipaul called on government to subsidise farmers because of the low prices being paid for their paddy. She said the subsidy will help farmers go back to their fields to do land preparation.

Another farmer said that, according to the Rice Factories Act, millers are required to pay farmers 50% of their payment within two weeks of purchasing their paddy. It is now more than one month and farmers have, to date, not received a dollar from millers.

After listening to the farmers, Regional Chairman Persaud said he appreciated every issue raised by the farmers, and would make every effort to have them resolved.