Markets aplenty for rice …Holder slams “crisis” talks as political
Assuring farmers that there was no need to fear about markets for their rice, Agriculture Minister Noel Holder said that several countries were lining up to purchase the commodity here and he slammed the talks of the industry being in crisis as political rabble-rousing. Holder noted that several countries within CARICOM, Panama and Mexico had expressed interest in Guyana’s rice and arrangements were being made to finalise some of those deals. He insisted that there was no crisis in the rice industry, noting that all the “noise being made is just political.”
The opposition People’s Progressive Party, has been at the forefront in describing the problems within the industry as a crisis. The party has made this one of their main outreach topic to supporters and even wrote Holder recently with recommendations which it said would alleviate some of the problems. “Guyana is the lead country for agriculture in the Caribbean, so that means our Head of State is the lead head for agriculture and therefore the Agriculture Minister is the lead for agriculture, and I had a chance to meet with 10 Ministers of Agriculture within CARICOM to discuss marketing possibilities. He said that Guyana’s rice was exported to 50 countries in the world.
Ever since the collapse of the Venezuela rice market, there has been some uneasiness within the industry. However, Holder said the Venezuela market was responsible for only 30 per cent of the rice market which can be diverted to many other markets. “Mexico imports 1.8 million tonnes of rice and we can’t supply that demand, the most we can supply is probably between 200 – 300 tonnes of rice for that market. Panama, which is a developing market would probably take more rice, there are markets in West Africa that showed interest and even the U.S are willing to take more rice and even the Bahamas,” Minister Holder explained. “As a matter of fact, currently, the Portugal market is as big as the Venezuelan market, about 30 percent or so (of rice exports). I think too much of a big thing is being made out of the lapse in the Venezuelan market.”
When questioned on the standards that have to be met before exportation, Minister Holder said this year Guyana reached proper certification based on international standards and the market was wide for all traders.
Meanwhile, Mr Holder acknowledged that scores of rice farmers from across Guyana have been protesting about rice markets, but he noted that the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) should be the agency to approach government on any matter pertaining to rice while farmers should relate their concerns to their representatives who in turn would put the matter to the GRDB.
The minister noted that the GRDB has a representative from all the rice sectors and even the banking sector and the Government are looking to have a hands-off approach on rice since there are representatives to deal with any issue that arises. “On the Rice Board of Directors, there is a representative from the Rice Producers Association, Rice Action Committee, Paddy Producers Association, Chairman of the Bankers Association, Millers Association….so what you have here is a very high-powered board that could make tremendous decisions and they are the ones that are supposed to make recommendations to the Minister of Agriculture on what should be the way forward. Don’t go and picket all over the place, what’s the point in that, since these same farmers have representatives at the highest level,” Mr Holder explained.
Adding that the GRDB has to make representation, the Agriculture Minister said the Government will then act in the best interest of the farmers. “But we are not going to intervene and play politics with people’s lives. There is no individual person that can make recommendations, there needs to be a collective approach because anybody from anywhere can make recommendations… because when recommendations come from the Rice Board it has the input of all the respective stakeholders, then that can make sense to a government.” He concluded that farmers have to decide if they will be swayed by politics and be made scapegoats or focus on developing their interests by seeking proper representation which can have results.
Leading the list of recommendations proposed by the PPP is for government to resume negotiations with the Government of Venezuela with the intention of selling rice and paddy to that country. The PPP also recommended that the administration immediately remove all forms of taxes and duties on fuel for the industry; remove all taxes and duties on inputs for the industry, including machinery, equipment and spares, and commence discussions with all the banks lending to the industry to review terms and conditions of loans taken in view of the low prices farmers are getting in order to ‘soften’ repayment conditions. Additionally, the PPP urged government to suspend payments of land leases and drainage and irrigation charges; issue a supplementary provision to the Parliament to provide financial support to farmers to aid in the purchase of seed paddy and fertilizers and for the GRDB to immediately implement minimum export prices for rice and paddy. The PPP also called for the implementation of an aggressive marketing strategy in order to enhance current prices and secure new lucrative markets; and also asking the government to withdraw its pronouncement that ‘it’s a private matter’ and give support to the industry, especially the farmers.
By Rabaindra Rooplall
