BUTTA BING BUTTA BANG, GUYANA SWEET SWEET GUYANA
Rice production for 2014 totals 633,000 tonnes …preparation for first 2015 crop underway
GUYANA’s rice production in the final crop this year has brought the production total in 2014 to a record-breaking 633,000 tonnes.And according to Agriculture Minister Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, at a press briefing yesterday, a small percentage of rice acreage is still to be harvested.
The production in the final crop this year surpassed that of the first crop, which recorded just over 300,000 tonnes.
RPA General Secretary, Mr. Dharamkumar Seeraj
The production for 2013 was 535,212 tonnes, which was far above the original target of 413,000 tonnes, and reflected a 27 per cent increase over the production in 2012. The average production per hectare was some five tonnes.
EXPORT CONTINUES
Asked about exports to date, Dr. Ramsammy disclosed that some 481,000 tonnes of rice has been exported already, with additional shipments to be made before the end of the year.
“We are likely to exceed the 500,000 tonnes export mark,” he said, adding that revenues for export of rice are in excess of US$250M.
Exports for 2014 are pegged at an all-time high, with several new trade agreements inked this year.
Guyana currently has export agreements with several countries in the Caribbean, Venezuela and Panama, among others. Also, arrangements for rice shipments to countries in West Africa are still being finalised.
The export-mark of 400,000 tonnes was surpassed in mid-October, excluding a number of contracts for rice exports that still had to be met. The 500,000 tonnes of rice was the 2020 target for production, however, in 2011, for the first time, the 400,000-tonne mark was surpassed and repeated in 2012 and 2013.
The export in 2013 was 394,000 tonnes, from a production of 535,212 tonnes, which was far above the original target of 413,000 tonnes. It is expected that exports will soon overcome the barrier which will bring Guyana in line with the world’s largest producers of rice. As such, focus is being placed on exploring new and emerging global markets, tackling the crucial and critical issues to facilitate increasing production.
MEETING WITH MILLERS
The Agriculture Minister also stated that paddy sales for the year have totalled some $45B.
He added that a meeting with rice millers is scheduled for this week to ensure that all farmers are paid in full.
According to him, some $42B has been paid out for the year, with $3.2B in payments still to be made.
Dr. Ramsammy acknowledged that looking at the big picture, the sums paid out to date are “huge” sums, and for the small farmers, the outstanding monies are also significant.
On that note, he assured that all efforts will be made to ensure that farmers are paid their full amounts.
