Source: Kaieteur News
25/12/2011 – The country’s rice regulators have threatened to continue stepping up their campaign on millers who owe farmers millions.
New Agriculture Minister, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, singled out Mahaicony Rice Limited (MRL), one of the largest companies with a chain of mills stretching across Guyana, for the warning during a press briefing on Friday.
MRL has in recent years been in a constant battle with Government and farmers for not paying farmers on time. The company’s operating licences were suspended at one time. But the issue remains a critical one for rice farmers whose operations depend on the timely payments for continuity.
Dr Ramsammy said that he will not be condoning the blatant advantage that is being taken of the farmers.
“I do not expect as Minister to have to deal with businessmen who do not pay our farmers…I have a special message for MRL and Mr. Jai Beni…Too many farmers are not being paid for paddy and rice they took from them…even though the situation is better this Christmas compared to last year’s Christmas”.
“I will be an impatient Minister when it comes to the payment of our farmers…Millers cannot use the rice farmers as their bankers; it is unethical, immoral and illegal to use rice farmers as bankers…I hope that practice comes to an end in 2012.”
Rice production this year is expected to reach a record 400,000 tonnes.
A proposal is before the Guyana Rice Development Board to suspend errant millers in 2012 who fail to pay rice farmers, Dr Ramsammy warned.
“We are ensuring two things; that water is being brought through the canal and the pumps are working to ensure the irrigation systems are working,” the official also said.
For the year, 10,700 tonnes of fresh vegetables and fruits and processed food were exported to CARICOM countries, amongst others.
“This is a 10 per cent increase compared to last year as 9,600 tonnes was the exported figure…This says that it is a growing trade between our farmers,” Ramsammy said.
He also urged that exporters should not credit purchases from poor cash crops farmers and have them waiting for extended periods for their money, as has been the case with the rice industry.