Rice Farmers protest payment delays
Scores of Rice Farmers, armed with placards, staged a picketing exercise Friday morning (June 27), at Anna Regina; demanding payment for their paddy sold to Millers several months ago.
The farmers led by AFC Councillor Naithram marched along the public road from Cotton Field to the commercial center of the Town and gathered on the Anna Regina ‘high bridge’ where they met with Rice Miller Rupan Ramotar.
An officer of the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) at Anna Regina said payments are taking place at the Golden Fleece Rice Mills but at a very slow pace.
Meanwhile, infront the GRDB Office another miller of Somerset and Berks was seen standing and looking on as farmers staged their protest. The miller also owes farmers a huge sum.
Framers say the current autumn crop is already in progress and they need money to buy fertilizer and insecticides for their fields. They also said that money is needed to maintain their families, send children to school and pay bills.
Some said they cannot afford to plough their fields in preparation for sowing because of the delay in payments by millers.
Farmers have vowed to continue the picketing exercise until they are fully paid.