What would life for Guyanese be without rice? The history of this crop dates back to the days of African slaves during the period of Dutch colonialism, and was continued by East Indians who were brought to British Guiana as Indentured Labourers.

From the 17^th century to the 21^st century, rice cultivation has persevered and has been carried on here in Guyana. Today, one cannot imagine life in this country, without rice.

“If we take any sub sector in agriculture, anywhere in the world and at any time in the history of the world, we would find it very difficult to find a success story, particularly for the last five years as (like that of the) Guyana rice industry.”  This is the view of Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy.

Rice production in 2014 was a record breaking 635, 238 tonnes, the highest ever in the history of rice production in Guyana. This was also a 27 percent increase over the 2013 record breaking production figure of 535, 212 tonnes.

A new high-yielding rice variety

Record breaking - production and export

From an era, where it took the country some 100 years to get to 50,000 tonnes of production, in the last five years, the country has simply bypassed the 400,000- tonne mark, and went straight to 500,000 and then 600,000 tonnes in production.

Minister Ramsammy explained that Guyana did not reach 50,000 tonne production level until somewhere around 1960, even though the country had been growing rice since the 1800s

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 Guyana reached 100,000 tonnes in production in 1965, and from then to 1992, only reached 100,000 again once; that was 1977. After then, the industry went downhill and production was more in the 70,000 and 80,000 tonne mark.

In 1992, there was the restoration of democracy, and with it there was a rebounding of the rice industry and the country returned routinely to the 100,000 tonne production levels, reaching 200,000 tonnes in 1995 and 300,000 tonnes in 2010. Production touched the 400,000-tonne figure in 2011 and 2013 and 500,000 in 2013.

Rice being reaped in Region Five, the highest producing area in 2014

Minister Ramsammy recalled the beginning of 2014, when he predicted that production would reach the 600,000-tonne mark. “People were saying that Ramsammy is taking the farmers down the wrong road…and if we produce it, we would not (be able to) sell it.”

The country not only met the 600,000 tonnes of predicted production, but last year it had its highest export ever, that is, of 501,000 tonnes. The minister noted that exports could have been in excess of 540,000 tonnes had there been better efficiency in the delivery to the markets. As the Agriculture Minister explained it, from last year’s contract, there is about 40,000 tonnes of rice that is still to be delivered, and this will be done during January 2015.

Guyana did not reach 100,000 tonnes in exports until 1995. In 2010, exports totaled 200,000 tonnes. It took five years for the country to move from 200,000 to 500,000 tonnes in export.

Sudden increase in production

If one were to look at the increase in production, he or she may ask, ‘Do we have an increase of acreage?’ Yes. In fact, the country no longer has abandoned rice lands.

Leading up to 1992, one could have travelled along the coast, from Moleson Creek, in Region Six, to Essequibo in Region Two, and witnessed all the abandoned rice fields. (Now)  “You cannot find abandoned land; in fact, lands that were never  rice fields, as you travel along the East Coast, West Berbice road on the north side, and which were mainly for cattle, they have now been converted into rice (fields),” Minister Ramsammy pointed out.

Experimental plots of new rice varieties

But why this overall efficiency in, and yields for production? It is because of the improvement in farming techniques, which are proving better yields. The Government invested in research, and today, the farmers have available 14 varieties of rice, which were developed. A good point to be cognisant of is that in the past, research was led by international scientists, but today, it is Guyanese themselves, who are doing the research, and it is “… they (who) are coming up with new and more resistant varieties, which also yield more,” Minister Ramsammy said.

Locally packaged rice

Moreover, today, farmers are more open to new technology.  Minister Ramsammy pointed out that unlike before, “where farmers were likely to tell you who are you to tell me what to do, my grandfather, my father and I did this for 50 years,” the farmers now are gravitating towards the technicians and scientists, and are willing to do the scientific things and invest in varieties to improve their yields.

And this is effecting the big change, causing the farmers today to be reaping more per acre. Today, the average farmer is reaping about 35 bags of paddy per acre, but many farmers get in the 40s; some as many as 55 to 60 bags of paddy per acre. Minister Ramsammy remembers coming back to Guyana, after studying abroad in the late 1980s, early 1990s and that the farmers were getting 14 to 16 bags of paddy from an area of land. 

Reducing production cost

The Government has facilitated the industry and further has always worked with farmers, to ensure that the cost of production was lowered. One avenue through which the government has been lending much support has been on seeking to keep the cost of fertiliser at a minimum. To this end, early in 2014, when fertiliser  prices were going up  to $10,000 per bag, Government, through a partnership arrangement with Venezuela, brought in fertiliser at a cheap cost, and made them available at $5,000 per bag to farmers, and in response the private sector immediately lowered their cost.

Drainage canal in a rice growing area

Minister Ramsammy pointed out, “that the Government of Guyana is not interested in removing the private sector from that particular market, but we also want to make the sure that the private sector behave in a responsible manner and see themselves as part of the team.”

The ministry can easily bring in all the fertilisers that the farmers need, and provide no opportunity for the private sector, but Government brings in just enough for competition. “We are not in the business of selling fertilizer, but also we are not going to remove ourselves, 100 percent, unless we see that there is no need for us to play that facilitating role,” he said.

The same obtains with other inputs, such as improving on infrastructure and drainage and irrigation, Minister Ramsammy explained. These are things one has to constantly be investing in, so that the cost is at the lowest possible point, he noted.

New markets

Meanwhile, with a higher target set for 2015, the government will be exploring new markets for Guyana’s rice, as there is potential in Central America. Other possible markets which Guyana will be exploring include countries in West Africa. This possibility was not explored earlier, because of the Ebola epidemic. With more markets being sought for Guyana’s rice, this should be an incentive for farmers increasing their production. Minister Ramsammy also noted that the increase in export can also be seen as a means of reducing production cost to farmers.

Paddy being loaded for export

Errant millers

In going forward, the minister acknowledged that the issue of late payment to farmers by millers continues to be a grave concern, but that the government will continue to work with millers to alleviate this problem. It is for this reason interventions have been made by the government, along with banking institutions. In explaining some of the challenges that can cause the late payments, Minister Ramsammy intoned that the cycle of selling and exporting is a main factor for the late payments. He detailed that “….In 2014, we had some 748,000 tonnes on hand and have exported 500,000 and consumed 100,000 tonnes, so we have 148,000 on hand, while the farmers have sold; the millers have not sold what they have.  

Notwithstanding these issues, according to the law, farmers must be paid within 42 days, and this is where the government comes in, and the millers have to work with the bankers. Only recently some $4 B was released by Government to address this issue.

Responding to claims by the opposition that the current administration has, over the years, neglected rice farmers, the minister rubbished the claim, highlighting how well Government has taken its responsibility for the sector.

“It is irresponsible for my colleagues in the opposition to say so, because they were in charge of this industry and what they have to show is that they have killed the industry.”

“With success have come some challenges and we are constantly finding more money to address these.” The reason is that even though rice is a huge success, complacency will not step in.