By Rabindra Rooplall

AS government steps up efforts to secure overseas markets for Guyana’s rice, the administration is concerned over the effects of El Nino on the agriculture sector, especially the impact on rice farmers if the rain does not fall in November, according to Minister of Agriculture Noel Holder.

El Nino is a phenomenon which occurs every three to seven years,and lasts for a period of six to 18 months. During the period of El Nino in Guyana reduced rainfall, increased temperature and evapotranspiration along with a reduced level in conservancies and salt water intrusion were all experienced and more significantly affected the agricultural sector. The rice industry had previously suffered tremendously and saw a reduction of the acres being sown.
The Agriculture Ministry has since issued an El Nino watch after taking into consideration predictions by various regional and international forecasting and weather agencies.

EXPORTS
Meanwhile, Minister Holder said although Panama is receiving rice from Guyana through a government-to-government deal, this country exports to 50 countries, including Portugal, which is a bigger market than Venezuela. Over 30% of the rice production is sent to Portugal and Guyana also exports to the Netherlands, which is another major market.
“If you really look at it the farmers in Region 6 are not complaining. Region 5 which has the biggest producer through Mahaica, Mahaicony, Abary-Agricultural Development Authority – it’s only Region 2 which has the smallest percentage of rice farmers and they are actually having problems with the millers paying them,” Holder said
He said recently the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) made available $500M to millers to pay farmers based on what was exported to the Panama market since government does not pay the farmers.
With late payments and the pricing of paddy being only two of several critical issues that continue to affect rice farmers, the Guyana Rice Producers Association (RPA) has been leading farmers in various protests in Essequibo, Berbice and Georgetown.

MILLER-FARMER PROBLEM
However, President David Granger believes that the paddy farmers should be protesting in front the people who owe them monies. “We don’t owe them money, there are elements instigating protests to create the illusion that the government is at fault, the government did not buy paddy, we are looking for markets to help the millers and farmers,” the President said. “We want the industry to survive and to prosper. It is a miller-farmer problem not a government rice problem.”