Dear Editor,

THE rice industry has long stood as one of the most critical pillars of Guyana’s economy, employing over 100,000 people directly and indirectly, while contributing billions to export earnings. However, from 2015 to 2020, during the tenure of the APNU+AFC coalition government, the industry faced an unprecedented decline marked by poor governance, loss of key markets, and an absence of strategic support. The facts are clear: The APNU+AFC administration failed rice farmers, millers, and rural communities.

One of the most devastating setbacks came almost immediately after the APNU+AFC government took office. Venezuela, which had been importing over 200,000 tonnes of rice and paddy annually under the PetroCaribe Agreement, abruptly terminated the deal in 2015. This market had accounted for approximately 40 per cent of Guyana’s rice exports, and was providing above-market prices.

The coalition government not only failed to diplomatically preserve this vital agreement, but also showed no urgency in securing alternative premium markets. Their diplomatic mismanagement directly contributed to the collapse of this essential trade relationship, leaving rice farmers financially stranded, and millers with stockpiles of unsold paddy.

While production marginally increased during the coalition’s term, with rice exports reaching 437,448 tonnes in 2015, export earnings declined sharply due to the loss of favourable markets and falling global prices. Farmers who were once receiving above $3,000 per bag under the PPP’s diplomatic arrangements were suddenly forced to accept less than half that amount from unreliable buyers, often with delayed payments. In the absence of government intervention, millers also took advantage of farmers with exploitative contracts and non-payments.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture, 2016 to 2019 were marked by stagnation and demoralisation among rice producers, with over 20 per cent of small farmers reportedly abandoning their fields during this period.

The APNU+AFC government promised to be a champion for agriculture, but reality told a different story. Critical infrastructure such as drainage and irrigation systems deteriorated, especially in regions like Essequibo and Mahaica-Berbice. While rice is heavily dependent on timely water supply and flood control, the government failed to adequately maintain canals and pumps, contributing to yield losses and crop destruction.

Additionally, subsidies on fertilisers, seed paddy, and transportation that were previously in place were either withdrawn or inconsistently delivered. The Rice Farmers’ Bond Fund, once a safety net under the PPP/C, was left inactive, leaving farmers exposed to volatile markets.

Another hallmark of the APNU+AFC’s failure was their dismissive stance towards rice farmers. Consultations were rare and largely symbolic. Key stakeholders, including the Guyana Rice Producers Association (GRPA), were sidelined in national policy discussions. Political appointees replaced qualified personnel in critical agencies like the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB), which led to bureaucratic inefficiency and the loss of institutional knowledge.

This political disengagement only deepened mistrust between the government and rice-producing communities, many of whom felt abandoned by the very administration that had campaigned on promises of rural development.

Since returning to office in 2020, the PPP/C administration has taken aggressive and targetted steps to revive the industry. Strategic efforts to diversify markets such as exporting to Mexico, Panama, and parts of Europe have begun to bear fruit. In 2024, Guyana recorded its highest-ever production: 725,282 tonnes of rice, according to the Ministry of Agriculture.

This recovery has been fuelled by investments in new seed varieties, flood control, and enhanced farmer support. Subsidies, grants, and timely payments to farmers have restored confidence in the State’s commitment to the sector. Moreover, the government has reestablished trust with rice-growing communities, bringing them back into the centre of policy formation.

The APNU+AFC coalition’s record on rice is not just one of missed opportunities, it is one of active deterioration. From losing the largest rice market in the country’s history to neglecting infrastructure and alienating farmers, the coalition presided over the near-collapse of one of Guyana’s most vital industries. The data, the voices from the fields, and the export records all point to the same conclusion: The rice industry was systematically failed by APNU+AFC.

The revival underway today stands as a testament to what targetted investment, farmer collaboration, and visionary governance can achieve. The contrast between the two administrations is stark, and rice farmers across the country are living proof of it.

Sincerely,

Dexroy Henry

A proud Berbician