“We can’t force people to buy at a particular price” -Jagdeo tells Essequibo rice farmers

Rice farmers on the Essequibo Coast may apparently have to wait out the present challenges in the rice industry, as Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo made it clear earlier Tuesday, that there is little the government can do at this point.

Jagdeo was at the time engaged with farmers at a meeting at the Anna Regina Multilateral Secondary, on the Essequibo Coast. The issues raised included the present price being offered per bag of paddy, non-payment for paddy, and irregularities surrounding the grading system at various mills within the region.

Big Smith News Watch understands that farmers are presently earning $3,700 per bag of paddy, a recent increase from $3,500. Farmers are contending, however, that the cost of production far outmatches their income, especially since the price per bag of fertilizer has increased by more than 100 percent. The Vice President made no mention as to whether the Government is prepared to push for new prices; but instead cited the global crisis as a stumbling block for the industry.

Jagdeo went on to say, “We can’t force people to buy at a particular price. When we took office, we removed taxes from pesticides and other key components to production. Due to the Pandemic shipping issues led to increase in fertilizer cost, and just as we were about to come out of the pandemic the war with Russia and Ukraine has again resulted in increased fertilizer cost.”

Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha, during a meeting with farmers last week, had indicated that the government was in talks with a bilateral partner, in a bid to import cheaper fertilizer. For now, though, it seems that there may be no near reduction to the increased fertilizer cost.

In what can be considered a more long-term approach, Jagdeo announced that when the Gas to Shore project comes on board by 2024, fertilizer production can possibly follow a year or two after. He noted that the Government is looking to establish a fertiliser plant within the next five years.

Another issue raised was the non-payment for paddy by some millers. One farmer who raised this issue with the Vice President said, “In 2020 I sold paddy to Hussain, to date there is no contact with him. How are we to know if this miller has been paid by GRDB, so we can get our money… He’s been purchasing paddy cash but cannot pay since 2020.”

In response, the Vice President urged farmers to take these millers to court, if they fail to pay for paddy. “We have in place an act that allows farmers to take the millers to court for paddy owed. All you have to do is request a contract when you take your paddy to sell. They can’t refuse to give you a contract because their export license can be revoked. Take them to court, and we will provide legal assistance,” he told farmers.