SCORES of rice farmers on the Essequibo Coast staged another protest in front the Guyana Rice Development Office yesterday to press demands for President Donald Ramotar to intervene in their current problem of low prices for paddy.

The farmers who staged their protest on the Anna Regina high bridge called for President Ramotar to intervene so solutions can be found to the vexing problem they are facing with millers on the Essequibo Coast.
The demonstrators displayed placards protesting that the Guyana Rice Development Board and the Rice Producers Association are not representing their interest. They said the situation concerning low prices for their paddy is a very serious one because their livelihood is at stake.
Farmers said they cannot go back to their fields because of great losses they have suffered due to bug infestation of the crop. According to the farmers, millers have taken advantage of them and have ripped them off in terms of prices and weight because of bug damage to some of the grains.
They said millers are taking some 200 pounds for a bag of paddy because of moisture content and the damaged grains and that is a big disadvantage to them.
The farmers who are led by AFC Region 2 Councillor, Mr.Naithram began the picketing exercise since last Wednesday and it continued on Thursday and Friday.
According to reports the farmers have signed a petition which will be sent to President Ramotar and it is understood that they intend to take the picketing exercise to Georgetown tomorrow to press their demands for millers to up prices for their paddy.
Last Sunday Minister within the Agriculture Ministry, Alli Baksh and General Secretary of the Rice Producers Association, Dharamkumar Seeraj along with General Manager of the GRDB, Jagnarine Singh met with hundreds of farmers at three public meetings at Hampton Court, Anna Regina and Golden Fleece and pledged government’s support to farmers who are affected by low prices for their paddy caused by bug infestation of their crop. Several women were also part of the protest.