AMID statements about the lack of markets for Guyana’s bumper rice crop, the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) is reporting a six percent increase in rice exports for 2015 in comparison to the same period last year.According to a statement by the GRDB, statistics for this year so far show 437,448 tonnes of rice has been exported in comparison to 412,220 tonnes for the same period last year. Acting General Manager of the GRDB Nizam Hassan expressed optimism that exports for 2015 will surpass that of 2014. He noted that “private exporters have commitments for the export of 220,000 tonnes of rice over the next several months.”

The GRDB is assuring rice farmers that their paddy will be sold and that measures will be put in place to ensure they are paid in a timely manner. The statement noted that “the GRDB has a responsibility to ensure, support and encourage millers to pay their farmers. However, it is largely a private arrangement but because of the law that exists, millers have 42 days to pay their farmers.”

“Government will continue to be proactive in its role in ensuring rice farmers are paid in a timely manner,” the statement noted. In highlighting the challenges farmers face in receiving payment, the GRDB General Manager explained that many millers had purchased paddy with the expectation of receiving higher prices than they are currently receiving.

Hassan pointed out that when Guyana was exporting to Venezuela it was getting US$780 per tonne of white rice. The price previously offered by Venezuela is almost double that of the world market price which averages at US$390 per tonne. He said presently Guyana has agreed to sell its white rice for between US$335 to US$400 per tonne, while parboiled rice sells for as much as US$600 per tonne.

Late October, Guyana made some headway in securing commitments by the Mexican government to buy some of this country’s rice. Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, who was attending the Open Governance Global Summit in Mexico City, had met with Mexico’s Agriculture Minister Jose Calzada, during which the commitment was made. Calzada advised PM Nagamootoo after representation was made that Mexico is keen on buying Guyana’s rice. During the meeting, Minister Caldaza had assured the Prime Minister that steps would be fast tracked to open the market for Guyana’s rice in Mexico. Mexico imports some one million tonnes of rice annually.

The Government of Guyana, through the Ministry of Agriculture, continues to search for international markets for Guyana’s rice, in the wake of the closure of the Venezuelan market. Agriculture Minister Noel Holder also recently advised that Guyana currently sells rice to 50 countries around the world, and too much of an issue is now being made out of the collapse of the Venezuelan market.

“As a matter of fact, currently, the Portugal market is as big as the Venezuelan market, about 30 percent or so, I think too much of a big thing is being made out of the lapse in the Venezuelan market,” the minister commented. Currently, the government is pursuing the Panama market, as “I have even had discussions with the Minister, during the Mexico meeting, so we are pursuing that; we are looking at new markets, it is an ongoing situation, we are even discussing with The Bahamas, they have an interest as well, and Haiti, we are looking at it as well.”

Minister Holder had also stated at a press conference he held to address the issue in early October that Guyana was successful in securing an increased market arrangement with Panama, for which shipment has begun. The shipment has been increased from 4000 to 7,200 tonnes. The Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) continues to work with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in securing additional international markets for Guyana’s rice.