THE Guyana Rice Producers Association (RPA) is calling on the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) to urgently make payments due to millers/exporters of rice to Panama.

“We recently learnt that the payments of approximately G$2 billion is due to these millers/exporters since July 2017. Our millers supply the rice to the GRDB, the contracted party with Panama over the life of two contracts and are still awaiting payments.

We are of the strong view that the GRDB is in a sound financial position, based on the amount of levies collected from exports over the years, to pay these millers either fully or at least a substantial amount of the total due,” the RPA said in a release.

It noted that the rice sector is severely affected by this huge amount due and many farmers are still to be fully paid.

According to the RPA, some millers are facing bankruptcy while others are unable to make investments for the much-needed upgrades to their facilities which will affect efficiency and ultimately profitability.