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FM
Former Member

Rice farmers to abandon production next crop

Harvesting in full swing in Region Two

Harvesting in full swing in Region Two

Paddy price crisis

 

…low prices do not justify investment

 

By Kristen Macklingam and Indrawattie Natram

 

Frustrated rice farmers in the two major rice producing regions, with no hope of relief in sight from the Government ,have signalled their intentions to ‘rest’ their lands come the next crop, given the low prices and lack of government intervention.

In Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), farmers have finally given up hope that the Government would be coming to their rescue in light of the crisis the rice industry has been facing over the past months due to the Venezuelan market for 200,000 tonnes of rice/paddy being lost.

The lack of action and unfavourable responses from the relevant authorities to inject funds into the industry have only made matters worse for those affected.

Some Essequibo farmers are contending that they may not be able to plant rice anytime in the near future. The poor prices they are being offered cannot offset their costs of production that they would have to outlay to and without intervention from the Administration, their future appears to be nothing short of ‘bleak’.

Guyana Times was able to speak with some of these rice farmers who are lamenting that the rice industry seemed to be in an unstoppable freefall.

One common cry from a majority of the affected rice farmers is that “rice is dead” as they continue to air their disappointment with regard to the treatment received from the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Administration.

Guyana Times understands that farmers are of the opinion that the only way they will be able to venture into the next crop is if the Government offers its immediate assistance and/or they receive subsidies on every bag produced.

A female rice farmer from Walton Hall, Essequibo Coast, told this publication that she will definitely be “putting my land to rest”.

The reason for this drastic decision is that usually she would generate p an average of $1.3 million in revenues from her three acres.

However, this crop only brought her $500,000 in total as a result of being offered $1500 per bag of paddy.

The woman declared that this is ‘unprofitable’ and would not offset her cost of production. She strongly believes that the Government should intervene in the issue of low paddy prices.

“We are producing we are producing, but there is no money, no market. We lost almost $600 per bag for our harvest. What will happen to our family? Who really standing up for us?” she questioned.

Another farmer from Cullen, Essequibo confirmed that he will not be going back to the rice fields since this has proven to be unprofitable during the past months.

He told this newspaper that the present prices being offered to rice farmers were the lowest that he has ever received.

According to the man, this is ‘unfair’ and a ‘rip off.’

“Where is the representation from the Government or the RPA or the Rice Action Committee?” he asked.

He further explained that he received 350 bags from his field and obtained $700,000 for this. However, in the past for the same crop period he would usually receive around $2 million.

Many rice farmers have voiced similar concerns about the industry since a number of them have outstanding loans which they took from the banks.

They noted that the $2000 and less for a bag of Grade A paddy which they have obtained would definitely not give them a profit after their expenses are taken care of.

With this being the case, it is highly unlikely that a majority of rice farmers, especially in Essequibo, would return to their lands for the next crop, even if they wanted to.

Hundreds of rice farmers in Region Two last week staged a protest demanding assistance from the Agriculture Ministry and the Government of Guyana.

Calls were made for better paddy prices as well as concessions on fuel and vehicles, but to date no word has come from the APNU/AFC Administration with regards to any of these demands.

 

Berbice

Meanwhile, in the Ancient County of Berbice, rice farmers are plagued with similar burdens and share the same views as those in Essequibo.

In Berbice, a notable number of rice farmers do not even own their own lands. They rent the lands from landlords who commonly reside outside of Guyana.

In addition to production costs, personal expenses and loans from the banks, these distraught farmers have to ensure they pay their rental fees for the lands on which they farm.

Many in Berbice are also contemplating ending their “rice farming days” as they are operating at major losses with the current situation in the industry.

It must be reminded that if the majority of rice farmers throughout the country cease to cultivate rice, which is a major revenue earner for Guyana, the economy would be adversely affected. (kristenm@guyanatimesgy.com)

Replies sorted oldest to newest

If the PPP did not spend 150 million US making it. s friends rich on the backs of rice farmers they would be in a safe place. If they spent some of that money on diversification and scouting new markets the people would not be buried by the loss of one buyer. This is not the APNU's fault. Only the bigots here would think that because as usual the want to absolve the scoundrels in the PPP. The truth is too much for their ethnic pride to take so self delusion steps in as a convenient cover.

FM

"A female rice farmer from Walton Hall, Essequibo Coast, told this publication that she will definitely be “putting my land to rest”.

The reason for this drastic decision is that usually she would generate p an average of$1.3 million in revenues from her three acres.

However, this crop only brought her $500,000 in total as a result of being offered $1500 per bag of paddy.

The woman declared that this is ‘unprofitable’ and would not offset her cost of production. She strongly believes that the Government should intervene in the issue of low paddy prices."

 

Poor reporting this is incorrect.

Django
Originally Posted by Django:

"A female rice farmer from Walton Hall, Essequibo Coast, told this publication that she will definitely be “putting my land to rest”.

The reason for this drastic decision is that usually she would generate p an average of$1.3 million in revenues from her three acres.

However, this crop only brought her $500,000 in total as a result of being offered $1500 per bag of paddy.

The woman declared that this is ‘unprofitable’ and would not offset her cost of production. She strongly believes that the Government should intervene in the issue of low paddy prices."

 

Poor reporting this is incorrect.

Bai, it was not meant to be correct. It was meant to hyper-ventilate. You're forgetting that Guyana Times is the PPP mouth-organ that has to sound a high note.

FM

"He further explained that he received350 bags from his field and obtained $700,000 for this. However, in the past for the same crop period he would usually receive around $2 million."

 

That is $5,714 per bag,any one know the weight per bag of paddy???

 

 

Django

Gold miners are facing similar problems.  Are they demanding guaranteed prices and subsidies?  No!  They simply request tax and import duty concessions.  So why do rice farmers think that they don't deserve the same? Gold miners have the same constraints and obligations.

 

Did any rice farmer ever question the risk of depending on one market, and that from a nation which is belligerent?   The rice industry is a PRIVATE industry.  When they become employees of a state owned corporation then they can demand guarantees.

 

The days when commodity producers in Guyana can expect guaranteed pruces and guaranteed markets is OVER!  They will have to compete like every other rice producing nation elsewhere.

FM
Originally Posted by Gilbakka:
Originally Posted by Django:

"A female rice farmer from Walton Hall, Essequibo Coast, told this publication that she will definitely be “putting my land to rest”.

The reason for this drastic decision is that usually she would generate p an average of$1.3 million in revenues from her three acres.

However, this crop only brought her $500,000 in total as a result of being offered $1500 per bag of paddy.

The woman declared that this is ‘unprofitable’ and would not offset her cost of production. She strongly believes that the Government should intervene in the issue of low paddy prices."

 

Poor reporting this is incorrect.

Bai, it was not meant to be correct. It was meant to hyper-ventilate. You're forgetting that Guyana Times is the PPP mouth-organ that has to sound a high note.

As usual the PPP is not taking responsibility for the risks inherent in depending on the enemy to pay higher than market prices.

FM
Originally Posted by yuji22:

PNC KoKoBeah will continue to spread.

Dude, quite the childish punk ass yammering about cocobee when it actually conveys no information except your desire to be racist and presume the APNU is leprosy to you. You are actually only being stupid because in life that disease is no longer as terrible as it once We have the cure just as we have the cure for racist knuckleheads like you. It is a metaphor that reeks of your hate rather than anything else.

FM
Originally Posted by D2:
Originally Posted by yuji22:

PNC KoKoBeah will continue to spread.

Dude, quite the childish punk ass yammering about cocobee when it actually conveys no information except your desire to be racist and presume the APNU is leprosy to you. You are actually only being stupid because in life that disease is no longer as terrible as it once We have the cure just as we have the cure for racist knuckleheads like you. It is a metaphor that reeks of your hate rather than anything else.

 

Listen Buckman, please do not call me Dude. The esteemed Yuji must be addressed properly. 

 

Thank you.

FM

It would be a blessing in disguise if some rice farmers want to "rest" their land next crop. Lately the rice industry has been plagued with an overproduction crisis. Farmers were misled to produce more with no guarantee of ready and lucrative markets. The PPP-affiliated RPA was looking after PPP regime's political interest. Not to forget the scampish and unscrupulous millers who want free or cheap paddy from farmers.

FM
Originally Posted by yuji22:
Originally Posted by D2:
Originally Posted by yuji22:

PNC KoKoBeah will continue to spread.

Dude, quite the childish punk ass yammering about cocobee when it actually conveys no information except your desire to be racist and presume the APNU is leprosy to you. You are actually only being stupid because in life that disease is no longer as terrible as it once We have the cure just as we have the cure for racist knuckleheads like you. It is a metaphor that reeks of your hate rather than anything else.

 

Listen Buckman, please do not call me Dude. The esteemed Yuji must be addressed properly. 

 

Thank you.

How about Bhai Dude, yuji?

FM
Originally Posted by yuji22:

Spin Gil Spin but your spin will not work. Anger is building up, this issue will bring down the PNC administration.

What happened with your orange spring or whatever spring? No one heeded your call?

FM
Originally Posted by Gilbakka:

It would be a blessing in disguise if some rice farmers want to "rest" their land next crop. Lately the rice industry has been plagued with an overproduction crisis. Farmers were misled to produce more with no guarantee of ready and lucrative markets. The PPP-affiliated RPA was looking after PPP regime's political interest. Not to forget the scampish and unscrupulous millers who want free or cheap paddy from farmers.

The PPP encouraged the farmers to build a 600k T industry when they had no guaranteed markets.  They ran to mortgage the industry to an enemy which periodically invades Guyana, attacks its citizens, and destroys and seizes property,

 

They then wish to fool the poor Indians that this isn't their fault.

Well people get the gov't which they deserved.  The rice industry accepted what ever the PPP handed them, and allowed themselves to be used for political purposes.

FM
Originally Posted by yuji22:

PNC's approach is exactly like Burnham.

 

They will not rest until Indos are crippled economically.

 

 

You are toxic....the reason we do not progress and will not progress.

FM
Originally Posted by D2:
Originally Posted by yuji22:

PNC's approach is exactly like Burnham.

 

They will not rest until Indos are crippled economically.

 

 

You are toxic....the reason we do not progress and will not progress.

 

Speak for yourself, Buckman. 

FM
Last edited by Former Member
Originally Posted by yuji22:

Spin Gil Spin but your spin will not work. Anger is building up, this issue will bring down the PNC administration.

Hey Dood, the economic of socialism created by Dr. Jagan and the PPP killed the industry. I thought you were for the  free-market privatized capitalist economic model. No?

Mitwah
Originally Posted by yuji22:

Spin Gil Spin but your spin will not work. Anger is building up, this issue will bring down the PNC administration.

 

I am sure you are regretting your attitude to the bauxite industry when the PPP abandoned those workers to the ruthless Chinese.

 

 

Capitalism is risky.  Nothing is guaranteed and nobody is entitled to gov't largesse.  If that was good for bauxite, it is also good for sugar and rice.

FM
Originally Posted by yuji22:

Rice farmers to abandon production next crop

Harvesting in full swing in Region Two

 

…low prices do not justify investment

 

By Kristen Macklingam and Indrawattie Natram

  And you just learned why depending on one market and on commodities prices beyond one's control is bad.

 

The PPP did NOT find diverse markets or help the industry to compete with its competitors.  So why your cries?

 

If there are no markets for the rice, why grow it?

FM
Last edited by Former Member
Originally Posted by yuji22:
Originally Posted by D2:
Originally Posted by yuji22:

PNC's approach is exactly like Burnham.

 

They will not rest until Indos are crippled economically.

 

 

You are toxic....the reason we do not progress and will not progress.

 

Speak for yourself, Buckman. 

As usual what I said is above your head and you presume you need to measure who owns what. Even there you would come up more than a mile short.  What an ignorant twit!

FM
Originally Posted by yuji22:

Rice farmers to abandon production next crop

Harvesting in full swing in Region Two

 

…low prices do not justify investment

 

By Kristen Macklingam and Indrawattie Natram

That's funny. I know quite a few rice farmers who're not abandoning production.

A

The gov't. should try hard to re-capture the markets for rice in Venezuela and Panama. It's senseless to show off Guyana's backward and dumb military in the face of a little bluff from the Venezuela. Lets get them to start buying our rice again.

Billy Ram Balgobin
Last edited by Billy Ram Balgobin