Rice farmers on the Essequibo Coast are calling on Government to take back the Caricom Rice Mills from the St. Vincent-based owners.

Speaking to the Chronicle, several rice farmers said that the management of the facility is not working in the interest of farmers and the rice industry.

One rice farmer said the mill stopped purchasing farmers’ paddy last week while harvesting is in full swing.

According to the farmer, hundreds of acres with rice in the third depth area aback Lima and Dartmouth are ready for harvest, but farmers are reluctant to start because of low prices offered for paddy by Caricom Rice Mills and other private millers.

The farmer, who doesn’t want his name to be mentioned because of fear of victimisation from millers, said if the price does not increase quickly then farmers will lose their crops still in the fields.

He also lamented that the intake of paddy at various mills is very slow.

Other farmers told the Chronicle that rice is their only source of income for their families and the current low prices is affecting their livelihood.

They said government has 20 percent shares in the Caricom Rice Mills and they will back Government to take over the mill and nationalise it.