Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha and officials from the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) on Monday met with members of the Rice Farmers’ Fertilizer Assistance Registration and Verification Committee to discuss the relief programme announced last May by President Irfaan Ali.
A statement from the ministry said that the meeting was held to discuss the lists of rice farmers per region who were eligible for the fertilizer assistance based on information gathered by the various committee members represented. During the meeting, the minister disclosed that approximately 168,000 acres of rice had been sown, to date, but there is anticipation that that figure would increase before the end of the advised sowing period, which is scheduled to close at the end of the month.
“To date, we have just about 168,000 acres that were sown but we are anticipating that by the end of this month, that total will increase because people are still sowing. I’m very optimistic that by the end of the sowing period this figure will increase to just about 200,000 acres. At the end of the process, we have to ensure the persons who are entitled receive and receive what they deserve. Hopefully, before the week is out the contract for the fertilizers will be awarded to suppliers. Once this is done, farmers will receive their vouchers and can begin collecting fertilizers from those suppliers,” the release noted.
Mustapha disclosed that Region Two had recorded some 31,884 acres sown, Region Three had recorded some 14,370 acres sown, Region Four had recorded some 7,440 acres sown, Region Five had recorded some 58,062 acres sown, and Region Six had recorded some 57,270 acres sown. The minister had urged the committee members to ensure the lists were transparent and accurately reflected the activities in the various regions.
“We do not want to end up in a situation where people point fingers at the end of the exercise saying that people who lost did not receive relief and people who did not lose received relief as was and still is the case with the flood relief exercise. I want us to have a clean and transparent list. A list that reflects what is taking place right now in the country in terms of persons who cultivated this crop,” he said.
On May 16th, President Ali said that the government will be distributing $1b worth of fertilisers free of cost to farmers.
He stated that this measure is vital to cushion the impact of the cost of living on Guyanese and noted that government’s procurement of the fertiliser will allow for scaling up of production and having an adequate supply to ensure there is price stability for produce.
“In order to cushion the impact of the rising cost of fertiliser on farmers and to limit the pass through to food prices. My government will be purchasing $1b worth of fertiliser for free distribution to farmers to use in their planting and replanting activities. Considering that fertilisers … will significantly reduce input cost and help ensure scaled up production and adequate supply of output which is critical to maintain price stability,” he said.
Ali in his opening remarks pointed out that the prices for fertilisers on the world market rose by 80% in 2021 and have already risen by a further 30% since the start of 2022.
Urea, one of the main fertilisers used here by farmers, the President said was trading at US$245 per metric tonne in December 2020 but as of April the average price for urea was pegged at US$925 per metric tonne. The sharp increase reflects the rapid surge in the price of natural gas which is a key input in the production of fertiliser, Ali said.
Of the $1 billion announced, $900 million will go towards the procurement of fertilizer for the rice industry, while the remaining $100 million will be given to persons cultivating cash crops.
