Dear Editor,
On the issue of farmers’ paddy being damaged, this can mean whole or broken kernels showing obvious deterioration due to pests or other causes, hence it is a non–issue and farmers should be allowed proper sampling and grading which is not being carried out by the millers or graders. A composite sample means the quantity of grains obtained by combining and mixing the increments taken from the bulk trailer.
It is part of the Caricom Standard for paddy since there was no scientifically reliable method available for determining variation in the damage. A new body is needed to monitor standards for grading farmer’s paddy at each rice mill, I suggest that the Guyana National Bureau of Standards be incorporated to overlook farmers’ interests.
It is hoped that rice farmers in Region Two will be better serviced by the government and Guyana Rice Development Board ( GRDB), as the millers will look at exporting high quality rice on a reliable basis. In order to achieve this, some assistance will have to be given to farmers .The cost of production has been unacceptably high for rice farmers. Prices for farmer’s paddy have tumbled to levels of the 1980s.
The debt problem has milked farmers of much of their resources. This is the classical debt trap whereby the more farmers pay the banks, the more they owe. The debt has been taking too much of rice farmers’ resources at the going paddy price of $500 to $300 per bag. Overall, the industry appeared to be operating non-competitively in 2013. Additional expertise may be needed in the long term to develop the industry.
Planting intentions is still uncertain for farmers. For the third time since 2012, the price for paddy has declined. The final outcome will largely depend on how much assistance the Ministry of Agriculture will give to the farmers and the assessment of the affected acreage in the region.
Yours faithfully,
Mohamed Khan
Rice Extension Officer
