Several millers on the Essequibo Coast are still clueless about what will be the price for a bag of paddy for the current crop given the situation with the war in Ukraine. Millers explained that they cannot decide the price since that is usually influenced by the global commodities market.
While some millers in Region Two are accepting paddy, others are still unsure as to how many tonnes they should purchase for this crop.
When this newspaper spoke to millers, they said that they are looking forward to the crop, but given the war and the current stock, this crop may be different for farmers.
“I can’t say what price I will give as yet I haven’t started to take in paddy as yet at our mill. As a local miller the price is usually dictated by the international market price and due to the war, gas prices skyrocketed,” Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Imam Bacchus and Sons Limited, Aadil Baksh, said.
Meanwhile, rice harvesting has commenced at Riverstown and other villages at the southern end of the coast. Rice farmers in other communities along Region Two have approximately one week more for their fields to ripen.
Rice farmers are however remaining positive that the situation will change and millers can offer them better prices for this crop. They also desire prompt payment – something that they plead for crop after crop.
“I finished cutting and I took my paddy at Vilvorden, I have to wait now for the price, I hope it’s better this crop last crop I got $1,800 for a bag”, Anil Persaud, a rice farmer of Riverstown disclosed.
As such, farmers have requested that the Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha, set up a meeting with farmers and millers to ensure that farmer’s rights are represented. During the previous crops, Mustapha met with farmers and millers and they said the meetings resulted in them getting prompt payments.
During the last crop, most millers offered $3,100 per bag of ABC and $3200 for extra ‘A’ grade. Many millers had concerns about the quality of paddy that was produced by farmers as most of the time they claimed that the paddy grades are bad but farmers still demand good prices. This newspaper has been informed that the Golden Fleece Rice Investment is accepting paddy but the prices have not yet been disclosed.
The Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) continues to monitor the mills to ensure that farmers are fairly represented.
The main economic activity in Region Two is rice cultivation with over 35,000 acres under cultivation. Many farmers depend on the selling of paddy to sustain them.
