Essequibo rice farmers have formed new association aimed at replacing the Rice Producers Association in championing their various causes. Naichram the newly appointed Chairperson of the Essequibo Paddy Farmers Association (EPFA) stated that the initiative was aimed at bringing resolution to the issues farmers have been protesting about for the past two weeks, such as low paddy prices, late payments and the overhauling of the paddy grading system.
The EPFA comprises a five-member executive and already has a $200,000 start-up which was contributed to by over 100 farmers in the Essequibo region. Naichram told Stabroek News, “Farmers donated to this association because they want a change in representation we want a group, a body that is not part of the government and that doesn’t have milling interests to worry about like the GRDB [Guyana Rice Development Board].
“Years ago the paddy was measured by a dockage system, but lots of the mills don’t have proper systems in place now and the grading system is skewed toward the millers benefit,” he said.
Back then too, he said, a bag of paddy would weigh 140 pounds while an additional three pounds were taken as insurance. However, bags are now as heavy as 160 to 180 pounds. “Now mills are taking the 140-pound bag and taking an additional 20 or even sometimes 40 pounds extra as damage,” Naichram stated.
He continued that by having all mills equipped with a proper dockage system along with verification, millers and farmers would both be at an advantage. He said that tomorrow, when Agriculture Minister Dr Leslie Ramsammy was scheduled to meet farmers in the region, the EPFA would approach him to consider a new paddy grading system.
He said the current system has farmers giving additional weight that is pure paddy to alleviate impurities. However when mills pay for the paddy, the price is significantly reduced. Farmers have stated that this makes no sense since additional paddy is taken to make up for the impurities.
One farmer told Stabroek News, “computerised dockage systems can be as low as US$1,500 and then the correct weight can be determined”.
Naichram stated that having equipment was only one portion of the issue. “We want the EPFA to be trained on how to use the machine and how to grade the paddy. We want to be just as involved in the milling aspect as the GRDB because we are the famers growing the rice.”
He said the newly formed body comprised only rice farmers and it would be soliciting Berbice and Demerara rice farmers for membership as soon as the beginning of the second crop planting. “We want an inclusive body the RPA is not looking out for the small time farmers and that is not good enough anymore,” Naichram stated.
Essequibo farmers began protesting low paddy prices and lack of timely payments on April 17. Representatives of the ministry the GRDB and the RPA met farmers in a town hall style meeting on April 21. However, farmers were not satisfied with the proposals and instead chose to protest in front of the National Assembly on April 24. Ramsammy agreed to meet farmers and millers on separate occasions in the coming week and together to discuss moving forward and developing the rice sector.
