GRDB confirms…
GUYANESE rice producers and exporters will be getting a 10 per cent price increase on sales to Jamaica, Manager of Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB), Mr. Jagnarine Singh confirmed yesterday.
He said this development was in keeping with the trend of upward prices for the commodity on the regional and international markets.
Singh said Guyana sold close to 50,000 tonnes to Jamaica last year and up to 25,000 tonnes, this year, so far.
He added that the price hike augurs well for the industry’s prospects.
The Jamaica Information Service (JIS), last week quoted te Jamaica Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Mr. Karl Samuda as saying that there was agreement on the 10 per cent price rise, with a consequent minimum 10 to12 per cent increase to consumers on their local market.
According to the JIS, he had explained that the higher price was due mainly to the El Nino phenomenon.
Last year, Jamaica received 57 per cent or 44,882 tonnes of its total rice imports from Guyana and 25 per cent or 25,266 tonnes from the United States (U.S.).
Samuda said, unlike that imported from Guyana, the cost of imports from the U.S. was not expected to go up.
He also spoke of plans, by the Jamaican Ministry of Agriculture, to grow rice there and said the efforts had been showing positive signs.
Samuda said, if the venture is successful, Jamaican rice would compete with that from Guyana.