RICE Producers Association (RPA) General Secretary Dharamkumar Seeraj has differed from the view expressed by Rice Producers Association Action Committee and Rice Farmers Chair, Jinnah Rahman that the rice industry is in a crisis, pointing out that production has increased significantly in the past few years.This, he said, is no indication that the blossoming industry is in limbo. The RPA is in no way connected to the Rice Producers Association Action Committee and rice farmers.

Rahman in a statement said the rice industry is in huge crisis – despite the massive ‘cover-up’ by Agriculture Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy, and officials of the Rice Producers Association and Guyana Rice Development Board.
Seeraj in an invited comment told the Guyana Chronicle that he is unaware of the crisis Rahman is referring to, pointing out that the rice industry is not free of challenges, but noted that efforts are being made to address them.
Rahman said more than 100,000 tonnes of paddy from the last crop is still at rice silos around the country with no market to dispose of this surplus.

“In the next three weeks, more than 400,000 tonnes of paddy will be harvested and no arrangements have been made to find market for this new intake. This impending crisis has been created as a result of the unnecessary control of the industry by the Minister of Agriculture, Leslie Ramsammy,” he said, contending that it is being done through the RPA, and the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB).

HOLDING FOR LUCRATIVE MARKETS
But Seeraj pointed out that there is not so much an issue in finding markets for the spike in rice production, but the problem has to do more with millers holding their produce for more lucrative markets such as the Venezuelan deal.

He also said that the value of crops in 2009 was estimated at $2.67 billion, but this has increased to $3.4 billion in 2014, as there are larger crops today. Understandably, he said, there would be a need for more money to pay farmers.

According to the Rice Producers Association Action Committee and Rice Farmers Chair, rice farmers and millers have little or no control over the marketing of their paddy or rice.

“Millers will not purchase farmers’ paddy this coming crop, if there is no immediate market for paddy or rice,” he warned.

But Seeraj said that though millers are holding stock for high-paying markets, there has been a gradual change in the position of some. He reported that in January, some 33,687 tonnes of rice was exported and efforts are being made to sell more to traditional markets.

Rahman also said that rice farmers on the Essequibo Coast are still owed a huge sum of money from the previous crop, claiming that reputable millers are being sidelined in favour of “PPP crony-millers”.

The RPA General Secretary said that indeed some farmers on the Essequibo Coast are still owed by millers, but noted that about 95 per cent of farmers are paid, and work continues to ensure all of them are paid.

He reiterated that the rice industry is 100 per cent privately-owned, and as such, the Agriculture Minister has no control of the industry. Seeraj also contended he is unaware that any miller is being sidelined, and called on Rahman to name those whom he believes are being marginalised, if he is telling the truth.

Meanwhile, Agriculture Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy in a release said that the rice industry continues to re-write the record books and continue to create new success stories.

“In spite of the doomsayers, the industry has grown phenomenally. There are some simple truths about the Guyana rice industry that no one can dispute with any credibility,” he said.
FACTS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES
He added that the facts speak for themselves. “In 2014, rice production was 635,000 tonnes and rice export was 501,000 tonnes. The self-styled experts repeat the false tale that there is no export market. But the rice export last year increased by more than 105,000 tonnes, or more than 25 per cent over 2013 export. The 2013 export itself was about 20 per cent larger than the 2012 export. Guyana has increased its export between 1990 to now by more than 1,000 per cent. The truth is that when the PNC was in control, supported by these same self-styled experts, Guyana could not produce enough rice to meet local demands and even if we did, we did not have sufficient markets.”
The Ministry said in 2015, Guyana will add sizable markets in other countries, particularly African countries.
“We are presently negotiating a supply of more than 70,000 tonnes to one African country. While we leave the private sector to service the market, the Government has been opening up these markets… in February we have shipped another 35,000 tonnes. With shipment in March expected to be around 40,000 tonnes, the remaining amounts of rice and paddy from 2014 would be fully depleted meeting local demands,” Dr Ramsammy said.
Dr Ramsammy said that small groups of politically-motivated individuals continue to cast blame on Government for any and everything in the industry and they are fully aware of the situation and the role of the Ministry and GRDB.
“The Ministry of Agriculture and its agency the Guyana Rice Development Board operates within the laws of Guyana,” he said.

(By Tajeram Mohabir)