-Guyana will be supplying 24, 000 tons of rice to Brazil

Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha, has announced that Guyana secured two new rice markets in Hungary and Latvia, in Europe, while an additional 24, 000 tons of rice will be supplied to Brazil, through a partial scope agreement.

Minister Mustapha made the disclosure during a farmers’ meeting held on Tuesday last at Cotton Field Secondary School, Essequibo Coast, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam).
He emphasised that the agriculture sector is taking its rightful place in the Caribbean after being neglected by the previous coalition government.
“We have taken back our rightful place in CARICOM and during the Agriculture Heads of Government meeting, our President, Irfaan Ali, was selected as the Chief spokesperson for agriculture in the Caribbean,” Mustapha said.

As such, Mustapha said the ministry is working to find solutions to the problems affecting the Industry. Meanwhile, Minister Mustapha said efforts are made to recover over $2 billion owed by Panama to millers here. He said Panama’s Agriculture Minister has acknowledged the debt and efforts were being made for the payments to be delivered.

Minister Mustapha said once the payments from Panama are made, then millers will be able to pay Region Two rice farmers millions outstanding in debts. This newspaper had previously reported that over $50 million is owed to Region Two rice farmers for over five years. These farmers had sold their paddy to rice millers who supplied rice to the Panama market.

After hearing the Minister’s speech, both rice farmers and millers were satisfied and commended the efforts of the Minister to reach out to them.