IN the rice industry, the fair grading of farmers’ paddy is of paramount importance. On the Essequibo Coast, the grading methods for the determination of grades for farmers’ paddy were found to be statistically flawed at some rice mills and very subjective in nature, hence it was not accepted by rice farmers. The Guyana Rice Development (GRDB) Quality Control Department must ensure are farmers trained in rice and paddy grading. The department should meet regularly to discuss the strategy used by millers to grade farmers’ paddy and compile reports on the performance of trained graders that are attached to the rice mills.
The Regional Co-ordinator of the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) Anna Regina Branch must report on the conditions of the Quality Control laboratories at the export mills and the millers must be informed that the condition for licensing is that they must employ trained graders and have proper and certified equipment in the laboratory.
The periods for farmers’ payments and interests should be stated on contracts instead of the crop and amendments to contracts should state the price which farmers will accept. These standards were formulated in 1999 and efforts must be to improve the rice industry and farmers’ well-being. This standard prescribes the requirements for grades of paddy and it also specifies the general conditions for sampling and the methodologies for assessing the various factors used in determining the grades, which is not being carried out by millers.
Most of these mills do not have Burrowes digital moisture computer 700, paddy shellers, riddle, aspirator and polishers-the equipment used in testing and analysis of grades.