MORE than 200,000 bags of rice have been transported from Region Two under the government’s ferry-concession initiative, which continues to provide significant relief to rice farmers and millers along the Essequibo Coast.

This was disclosed by Minister within the Ministry of Public Works Madanlall Ramraj, during a meeting with rice farmers on Saturday at the Anna Regina Secondary School Auditorium.

He explained that the government’s collaboration between the Ministry of Public Works, the Ministry of Agriculture, and the Transport and Harbours Department (T&HD) has ensured that ferries such as the MV Hercules and the vessels operating from the Good Hope–Supenaam stelling are being used to facilitate the movement of rice and paddy at no cost to farmers.

Minister Ramraj reported that between January and October 2025, a total of 208,698 bags of rice, valued at approximately $40.7 million, were transported free of cost.

The freight rate for this amount would normally be $195 per bag, but the government’s concession has completely waived those fees, resulting in major savings for the agricultural community.

Figures from the Transport and Harbours Department (Essequibo Operations) show that the government’s free and concessional transport policy for rice and paddy has amounted to an estimated $135 million in revenue waivers between 2024 and October 2025.

The initiative included reduced freight charges and free return travel for vehicles and drivers, ensuring farmers could move produce efficiently and at minimal cost.

Between January and April 2025, the concession accounted for $7.06 million, while between April and October 2025, after full approval for free transport of rice and paddy, the value of waived fees reached $102.7 million.

The breakdown by port reflects $36.4 million at Parika; $90.5 million at Supenaam; $1.6 million at Leguan and $6.3 million at Wakenaam, totalling $135 million in government-backed support.

The concession, which took effect on April 16, 2025, allows for the free transport of rice and paddy on ferries operating among Supenaam, Wakenaam, and Leguan, with return trips from Parika also free of charge for drivers and vehicles.

Region Two farmers have hailed the initiative as a timely intervention, helping them offset transportation costs at a period of increased production and market expansion.

The measure also eased logistical pressures during peak harvesting months, ensuring that produce reached buyers quickly and efficiently.

The concession forms part of the wider government policy to support the agricultural sector, recognising its vital role in national food security, employment and rural development.

With over $135 million in transportation savings to date, and more than 200,000 bags of rice moved efficiently across the waterways, the initiative stands as a clear demonstration of the government’s commitment to ensuring that Guyana’s farmers remain competitive, productive and supported.

One farmer, Takoor Persaud, said the measure helped him secure better prices for his paddy: “In  Essequibo we were getting low prices, as low as $2,300, so with the ferry we could take our paddy to the West Coast and get better prices,” he said.

Farmers expressed appreciation to the government for the continued support to the sector, noting that the concession has provided direct economic benefits and strengthened the overall competitiveness of the rice industry.