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FM
Former Member

Rice farmers to Govt: “Give us the $23B now”

As local industry wilts

– Hundreds protest against Govt’s alleged deception

The $23 billion promised by the David Granger-led A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government to the challenged rice industry is still to be paid, and farmers are at their wits’ end as the situation, for which they were earnestly promised relief, worsens.

Close to 400 rice farmers from across the country flocked the outskirts of the Agriculture Ministry on Thursday, and although they put on a peaceful protest, their cries for help and relief were loud. Farmers travelled from as far as Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) and the Upper Corentyne, Berbice Region hoping to send a message to the new Government, that it has a responsibility to keep its promises.

The close to 400 farmers along the Vlissengen Road entrance to the Agriculture Ministry

The close to 400 farmers along the Vlissengen Road entrance to the Agriculture Ministry

Finance Minister Winston Jordan, when he presented the country’s largest budget ever on August 10, had declared that Government had set aside some $23 billion for the industry, which was already feeling the brunt of Government’s fallout with neighbouring Venezuela, through the PetroCaribe deal. Farmers had begun pleading with Government to work towards the restoration of that deal, which benefited the more than 7000 rice farmers across the country. The farmers are also claiming the promise made by the Government, during its time on the campaign trail, that it would make available payments of up to $9000 per bag of paddy.

But those promises, according to the farmers, were a mere sham, as Government, up until now, cannot say where the money is, or when it will be paid.

Hurting A week into the new crop, farmers are hurting, at least that is what they expressed while speaking with this publication before peacefully marching around the Ministry, encircling the Ministry of the Presidency as well. The prices farmers are receiving per paddy vary across the country. According to them, they are now being offered as low as $800 per bag and at the most $1900, in some regions.

“We are not begging for $7000 and $8000, give us what we were receiving last crop, that’s all we want,” a West Coast Demerara farmer identified as Kardial told Guyana Times.

“We need $4000 per bag paddy, because we have these problems with fertilisers and drugs. We presently have things with the bank and those things ; $2000 per bag cannot do anything for us. And if we make this rice industry fall and the sugar industry fall, it means all of us without counting colours or races, all of us will punish in this country,” said Ramchand, a farmer from the West Coast.

He said the last crop farmers in his region were receiving $3000 -$3500 per bag paddy, and even with that amount, there were tremendous difficulties.

Another farmer from Black Bush Polder, Corentyne, Narvin Ramdin said “the $1900 and $1800 we receiving cannot compensate us. One plot rice cost about one million dollars and the bank coming and take everything you have.

Now you know long time you know your children would cry, now a papa a cry more than the children. The farmers are frustrated.” He said if Government could give the farmers at least $3000 that should be able to get them back on their feet.

Another Yakusari, Black Bush Polder farmer, Lionel Soman told Guyana Times that added to the issue of low paddy prices is the non-payment of monies from last crop.

“We have another problem added to this. We sell rice over five months ago and we cannot get our monies as yet. We hear that they have given rice farmers and millers, but I want them to come see that the rice millers pay us our money.” He said since last month he owes some $2million on his truck and was fearful that it could be taken away.

Representing the farmers from Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), Ramlagan Singh said Government should seek to renew the Petro Caribe deal, which he said has helped him and the thousands of farmers over the last 10 years.

“We are asking them to go back and renegotiate the deal so that we could get better prices for our paddy. Added to that many of the millers have not paid the farmers in Region Six, and now this coming crop, the farmers are getting now an average between $1500 to $2400 per bag paddy.”

He said this was most ridiculous since the cost of production per bag paddy is $3000 and the farmers were getting $2000. As such, he said Government must intervene to save the rice industry; the main pillar of the economy.

Grim While many of the farmers shouted in unison for better conditions, others silently held their placards, sending a grim message to Government for it to intervene, or suffer the consequences.

There were talks that the farmers, who may not gather in such a capacity at any one time for now, will carry out their protests in their respective region, an activity they hope to continue until Government listens to their cries.

Rice Producers Association (RPA)  General Secretary Dharmkumar Seeraj said the new Administration has duped the hapless farmers.  He said his enquiries of government’s promised $23 billion have come up empty as neither the Minister of Agriculture or the Minister of Finance who made the announcement could give any information.

Seeraj said the industry under the current Administration was bound to suffer blows as no attempt was being made to arrest the situation, which is leaving the many farmers. He added that while Government has stepped in for an equally important industry – the mining sector, the same attention should be paid to the rice industry.

“Rice over the years has been the largest earner of foreign exchange for this country. It is the best vehicle for rural development…. Rice has been pumping up this economy. Now if you are going to turn a blind eye to your largest earner, then you don’t have the interest of the country at heart, if you are going to concentrate on a few miners and leave out your largest foreign exchange earner, you shooting yourself in the foot,” he said.

He said right now the only way to address this issue was for Government to find the money that was promised to the farmers.

Replies sorted oldest to newest

Finance Minister Winston Jordan, when he presented the country’s largest budget ever on August 10, had declared that Government had set aside some $23 billion for the industry, which was already feeling the brunt of Government’s fallout with neighbouring Venezuela, through the PetroCaribe deal. Farmers had begun pleading with Government to work towards the restoration of that deal, which benefited the more than 7000 rice farmers across the country. The farmers are also claiming the promise made by the Government, during its time on the campaign trail, that it would make available payments of up to $9000 per bag of paddy.

FM

I have a few questions if some one can answer

it help me to understand how the Rice Industry

is Functioning in Guyana.

 

(1) Who buys the paddy from the farmers and set the price.

 

(2)Who buys and market the milled rice.

 

 

Django
Last edited by Django
Originally Posted by asj:

Finance Minister Winston Jordan, when he presented the country’s largest budget ever on August 10, had declared that Government had set aside some $23 billion for the industry, which was already feeling the brunt of Government’s fallout with neighbouring Venezuela, through the PetroCaribe deal. Farmers had begun pleading with Government to work towards the restoration of that deal, which benefited the more than 7000 rice farmers across the country. The farmers are also claiming the promise made by the Government, during its time on the campaign trail, that it would make available payments of up to $9000 per bag of paddy.

Venezuela was already switching from Guyana to Uruguay.  Guyana needs to diversify its markets and reduce production costs.

 

The Venezuela deal was a political deal, with a lunatic, and so no sane person could actually think that it could have been relied upon.  In addition when Maduro loses office the new gov't will end Petro Caribe.

FM
Last edited by Former Member
Originally Posted by caribny:
Originally Posted by asj:

Finance Minister Winston Jordan, when he presented the country’s largest budget ever on August 10, had declared that Government had set aside some $23 billion for the industry, which was already feeling the brunt of Government’s fallout with neighbouring Venezuela, through the PetroCaribe deal. Farmers had begun pleading with Government to work towards the restoration of that deal, which benefited the more than 7000 rice farmers across the country. The farmers are also claiming the promise made by the Government, during its time on the campaign trail, that it would make available payments of up to $9000 per bag of paddy.

Venezuela was already switching from Guyana to Uruguay.  Guyana needs to diversify its markets and reduce production costs.

 

The Venezuela deal was a political deal, with a lunatic, and so no sane person could actually think that it could have been relied upon.  In addition when Maduro loses office the new gov't will end Petro Caribe.

The 23 bil is for rice already supplied.  So what's your point?

 

What we have is a repeat of the issue triggering the devastating 1973 Sugar strike.  PNC spends the money on their political agenda, some of which is owed to the workers, then tell them go "eat cake".  What we are seeing is the resurrection of the old PNC order bent on intransparency and in-your-face- thievery.

FM

This is such a load of crock. Spiteful, villainous, greedy nasty people made so by the PPP whom the took no turns to demand prices from but were  used by them and to whom the aquisced meekly. The PPP did not tell them the market was lost before the elections. Venezuela informed the PPP back in January that the rice deal was ending in November this year!

 

This is no different from  miners expecting   x dollars for gold and the prices are bottomed out! Is that not the reason the PPP said there is no money in the coffers?  The PPP speculated on gold and lost so get real with this demand for rice. Rice is on life support presently.

 

There is no viable market and demanding that one provide them with fixed prices in such instances is pure bunk. How about the Amerindians asking that they be paid for their brazil nuts which they have and have a market for but which they cannot get to market because there is no delivery system!!!! One has to abide by market forces and prevailing logistical impediments as the Amerindians have been for decades.

 

 In the US Obama promised immigration, healthcare, closing Guantanamo, green economy, cessation of war etc and he has delivered on less than a third and no one is on the street measuring his performances against what he has done because they saw, know and understand that promises made in one era may have to change based on exigent circumstances. 

 

The government allocated 23 billion but that money has to come from taxes to be collected because the economy was left in a mess by the corrupt PPP. It cannot pay that out simply because it promised the farmers a fair shake. Fail means meeting economic circumstances and the fact that the promise was made in an era where the PPP did not fully disclose the loss of market, one has to correct and reconsider what is fair.

 

 And who are these rice farmers? All of them have 3 to 10 acres and less on average and even their crops are not guaranteed. Further, the government should get the hell out of this business. They cannot be expected to deliver on markets lost because that would be be subsidizing failures and we are already in a quagmire of subsidizing the Sugar industry when we have failure to produce efficiently and also no market for the finished product.

FM

Demanding guaranteed prices is nonsense, as rice is a commodity and prices vary based on market conditions. The PPP didnt guarantee prices, and the arrangement with Venezuela was a political deal, not a market based deal, and therefore not sustainable.

 

However there is a long standing issue between the rice millers and the rice farmers.  This generated protests against the PPP, so APNU/AFC was well aware of this issue and spoke to it.  Now they are in power, they need to assist the industry to resolve this issue.

 

Guyanese production costs are high. Again the gov't needs to work with the industry to see about reducing costs, to enable Guyana to take advantage of the market opportunities which exist.

 

UNlike some, I give sections of the industry credit as they were quite vocal against what was happening to them under the PPP.  They have EARNED the right to similarly protest under APNU/AFC.

 

And they are right.  Granger was stupid to say that there isnt a crisis in the rice industry when prior to the elections APNU/AFC made much of the fact that there WAS a crisis.

 

I continue to see APNU/AFC meandering and not understanding that when the won the election, they were given the opportunity to work with the population to find solutions to the myriad of problems which the nation faces.

FM
Last edited by Former Member
Originally Posted by caribny:

Demanding guaranteed prices is nonsense, as rice is a commodity and prices vary based on market conditions. The PPP didnt guarantee prices, and the arrangement with Venezuela was a political deal, not a market based deal, and therefore not sustainable.

 

However there is a long standing issue between the rice millers and the rice farmers.  This generated protests against the PPP, so APNU/AFC was well aware of this issue and spoke to it.  Now they are in power, they need to assist the industry to resolve this issue.

 

Guyanese production costs are high. Again the gov't needs to work with the industry to see about reducing costs, to enable Guyana to take advantage of the market opportunities which exist.

 

UNlike some, I give sections of the industry credit as they were quite vocal against what was happening to them under the PPP.  They have EARNED the right to similarly protest under APNU/AFC.

 

And they are right.  Granger was stupid to say that there isnt a crisis in the rice industry when prior to the elections APNU/AFC made much of the fact that there WAS a crisis.

 

I continue to see APNU/AFC meandering and not understanding that when the won the election, they were given the opportunity to work with the population to find solutions to the myriad of problems which the nation faces.

Nonsense, this is voodoo economics.  Almost every nation, including the US and all of Europe give price guarantees to farmers.  In a perfect market, this ensures adequate supplies as for food, you need supply to equal demand.  To guarantee this, you need a certain amount of over capacity to allow for bad crops, bad weather, bad harvest.  The last thing you want is for a tight market where and small shortage result in famine.

 

Regarding the export, you need the same to ensure you can fulfill contract obligations as the purchaser has mouths to feed.

 

The rice farmers need to be paid or the old PNC outcomes will be realized.

FM
Originally Posted by baseman:
 

Nonsense, this is voodoo economics.  Almost every nation, including the US and all of Europe give price guarantees to farmers.

And yet you think that Guyana has the money that these nations have? 

 

I wouldn't even get into the damaging impacts that these subsidies have, like destroying the agricultural sector in Haiti, when the USA dumped subsidized food.

FM
Originally Posted by baseman:

Nonsense, this is voodoo economics.  Almost every nation, including the US and all of Europe give price guarantees to farmers.  In a perfect market, this ensures adequate supplies as for food, you need supply to equal demand.

The EU does not give price guarantee to the farmers. That's another lie that you just invented. Many farmers trade directly with supermarkets etc., who decide what they are willing to pay.

Some farmers receive a subsidy on some products, but the subsidy does not cover the cost of the farmers in producing the product in each country.

Mr.T

Jordan says $23B for rice “shipment”  not for rice “farmers”

Another Govt blunder

– still unclear if it is “real” money

After weeks stonewalling over mounting pressure following his announcement of $23 billion for rice farmers during his

Finance Minister Winston Jordan

Finance Minister Winston Jordan

maiden 2015 Budget presentation in the National Assembly, Finance Minister Winston Jordan has finally admitted that Government never intended to give rice farmers any money to assist them, while the industry continues to founder in its current crisis. Seeking to set the record straight on Friday, Jordan during an interview with Guyana Times said his announcement of providing $23 billion to the rice industry, is not to pay farmers, but to assist in the shipment of rice to Venezuela. He still did not address the Opposition Leader’s contention that the sum was not “real” nor exactly to which entities the $23B was paid. The sum would represent payment for an entire year’s shipment of 200,000 tonnes of rice to Venezuela. Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo had made the shocking disclosure when he rose to debate the Budget, revealing in the process that the $23 billion announced by Jordan was not real or liquid money but just a paper transaction by the Government. When Jordan announced the subsidy for the industry, it appeared that it was going directly to struggling rice farmers. As a result, farmers were ecstatic and overjoyed at the announcement as it meant that they would get assistance during their time of turmoil in paying for their investment in the present crop, from the Government. But Jordan reminded that the new Administration allegedly met an empty PetroCaribe Fund, with a mere $.8 million remaining. He said his portfolio as Finance Minister is to honour all financial agreements, and not to finance the farmers. Government had already said that the rice industry is a private entity and although assistance has been given to the industry, it remained just that. Jordan reiterated that all the monies owed to the farmers have already been paid and that no more money could be paid to them until the next rice shipment. On Friday, close to 400 rice farmers from across the country gathered in front the Agriculture Ministry and the Ministry of the Presidency, demanding that Government honour its obligation and pay up the $23 billion that was promised to them. From the picket line they also demanded that Government honour its promise of paying $9000 per bag of paddy.  Half of that amount would be acceptable, they said. General Secretary of the Rice Producers Association Dharmkumar Seeraj, who was also at the picketing exercise said the new Administration has duped the hapless farmers. He said his inquiries of Government’s promised $23 billion have come up empty handed as neither the Ministers of Agriculture or Finance, who made the announcement, could give any information. Seeraj said the industry under the current Administration is bound to suffer as no attempt is being made to arrest the situation, which is leaving many farmers in distress. He added that while Government has stepped in for an equally important industry; the mining sector, the same attention should be paid to the rice industry. “Rice over the years has been the largest earner of foreign exchange for this country. It is the best vehicle for rural development… Rice has been pumping up this economy. Now if you are going to turn a blind eye to your largest earner, then you don’t have the interest of the country at heart, if you are going to concentrate on a few miners and leave out your largest foreign exchange earner, you shooting yourself in the foot”. He said right now the only way to address this issue is for Government to find the money that was promised to the farmers. (alexisr@guyanatimesgy.com)After weeks stonewalling over mounting pressure following his announcement of $23 billion for rice farmers during his maiden 2015 Budget presentation in the National Assembly, Finance Minister Winston Jordan has finally admitted that Government never intended to give rice farmers any money to assist them, while the industry continues to founder in its current crisis. Seeking to set the record straight on Friday, Jordan during an interview with Guyana Times said his announcement of providing $23 billion to the rice industry, is not to pay farmers, but to assist in the shipment of rice to Venezuela. He still did not address the Opposition Leader’s contention that the sum was not “real” nor exactly to which entities the $23B was paid. The sum would represent payment for an entire year’s shipment of 200,000 tonnes of rice to Venezuela. Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo had made the shocking disclosure when he rose to debate the Budget, revealing in the process that the $23 billion announced by Jordan was not real or liquid money but just a paper transaction by the Government. When Jordan announced the subsidy for the industry, it appeared that it was going directly to struggling rice farmers. As a result, farmers were ecstatic and overjoyed at the announcement as it meant that they would get assistance during their time of turmoil in paying for their investment in the present crop, from the Government. But Jordan reminded that the new Administration allegedly met an empty PetroCaribe Fund, with a mere $.8 million remaining. He said his portfolio as Finance Minister is to honour all financial agreements, and not to finance the farmers. Government had already said that the rice industry is a private entity and although assistance has been given to the industry, it remained just that. Jordan reiterated that all the monies owed to the farmers have already been paid and that no more money could be paid to them until the next rice shipment. On Friday, close to 400 rice farmers from across the country gathered in front the Agriculture Ministry and the Ministry of the Presidency, demanding that Government honour its obligation and pay up the $23 billion that was promised to them. From the picket line they also demanded that Government honour its promise of paying $9000 per bag of paddy.  Half of that amount would be acceptable, they said. General Secretary of the Rice Producers Association Dharmkumar Seeraj, who was also at the picketing exercise said the new Administration has duped the hapless farmers. He said his inquiries of Government’s promised $23 billion have come up empty handed as neither the Ministers of Agriculture or Finance, who made the announcement, could give any information. Seeraj said the industry under the current Administration is bound to suffer as no attempt is being made to arrest the situation, which is leaving many farmers in distress. He added that while Government has stepped in for an equally important industry; the mining sector, the same attention should be paid to the rice industry. “Rice over the years has been the largest earner of foreign exchange for this country. It is the best vehicle for rural development… Rice has been pumping up this economy. Now if you are going to turn a blind eye to your largest earner, then you don’t have the interest of the country at heart, if you are going to concentrate on a few miners and leave out your largest foreign exchange earner, you shooting yourself in the foot”. He said right now the only way to address this issue is for Government to find the money that was promised to the farmers. (alexisr@guyanatimesgy.com)

FM
Originally Posted by caribny:
Originally Posted by baseman:
 

Nonsense, this is voodoo economics.  Almost every nation, including the US and all of Europe give price guarantees to farmers.

And yet you think that Guyana has the money that these nations have? 

 

I wouldn't even get into the damaging impacts that these subsidies have, like destroying the agricultural sector in Haiti, when the USA dumped subsidized food.

You are a racists fool and try to excuse PNC racism.  No they don't and that wealth so they should then stop subsidizing electricity for certain sectors and pay the farmers who are feeding the nation, and then some.  It is this exact attitude which will drive Guyana back o the economic despair that once was under the PNC.

 

Listen banna, if the PNC want to succeed, they cannot embrace the racist policies of the old PNC guard.  PNC has little leverage this time around so your old racists policies will bring you to a screeching halt in short order and nothing your GDF can do to right that ship.

FM
Originally Posted by Mr.T:
Originally Posted by baseman:

Nonsense, this is voodoo economics.  Almost every nation, including the US and all of Europe give price guarantees to farmers.  In a perfect market, this ensures adequate supplies as for food, you need supply to equal demand.

The EU does not give price guarantee to the farmers. That's another lie that you just invented. Many farmers trade directly with supermarkets etc., who decide what they are willing to pay.

Some farmers receive a subsidy on some products, but the subsidy does not cover the cost of the farmers in producing the product in each country.

Yes clown they do, they give price guarantees and the excess production is dumped on the world spot market, many times below costs.  You are a fool.  You live there are don't even know how the food gets to your table.

FM
Originally Posted by baseman:
Originally Posted by Mr.T:
Originally Posted by baseman:

Nonsense, this is voodoo economics.  Almost every nation, including the US and all of Europe give price guarantees to farmers.  In a perfect market, this ensures adequate supplies as for food, you need supply to equal demand.

The EU does not give price guarantee to the farmers. That's another lie that you just invented. Many farmers trade directly with supermarkets etc., who decide what they are willing to pay.

Some farmers receive a subsidy on some products, but the subsidy does not cover the cost of the farmers in producing the product in each country.

Yes clown they do, they give price guarantees and the excess production is dumped on the world spot market, many times below costs.  You are a fool.  You live there are don't even know how the food gets to your table.

Those days are long over. There are no more price guarantees on anything. It is now all market forces driven under the WTO Free Trade agreement, where other non-EU countries can bring in and sell their products cheaper if they are able to. Framers have been dumping milk, vegetables, and fruits all over the EU in protest against the cost of production versus the amount they get when selling their produce. That's because market prices have dropped on many items. This puts your ridiculous claims into perspective. Guyana has not received any dumped EU produce, so any such claims by you are just a bunch of idiotic lies.

Mr.T
Originally Posted by Mr.T:
Originally Posted by baseman:
Originally Posted by Mr.T:
Originally Posted by baseman:

Nonsense, this is voodoo economics.  Almost every nation, including the US and all of Europe give price guarantees to farmers.  In a perfect market, this ensures adequate supplies as for food, you need supply to equal demand.

The EU does not give price guarantee to the farmers. That's another lie that you just invented. Many farmers trade directly with supermarkets etc., who decide what they are willing to pay.

Some farmers receive a subsidy on some products, but the subsidy does not cover the cost of the farmers in producing the product in each country.

Yes clown they do, they give price guarantees and the excess production is dumped on the world spot market, many times below costs.  You are a fool.  You live there are don't even know how the food gets to your table.

Those days are long over. There are no more price guarantees on anything. It is now all market forces driven under the WTO Free Trade agreement, where other non-EU countries can bring in and sell their products cheaper if they are able to. Framers have been dumping milk, vegetables, and fruits all over the EU in protest against the cost of production versus the amount they get when selling their produce. That's because market prices have dropped on many items. This puts your ridiculous claims into perspective. Guyana has not received any dumped EU produce, so any such claims by you are just a bunch of idiotic lies.

Guyans does receive, Guyana traders buy cheap potatoes, etc on spot and import into Guyana.

 

All the developed nations give price guarantees, for example, the USA is that largest technical purchaser of food, milk, etc.  The EU members, Swiss, etc offer "back-stop" support to there farmers.  This is why these countries have stable and adequate food supplies with ample strategic reserves.  Without Govt intervention, it would benefit farmers to allow some supply stress and get better prices for what they produce. Of course, this means those on the fringe will be exposed to malnourishment.

FM
Originally Posted by baseman:
Originally Posted by Mr.T:
Originally Posted by baseman:
Originally Posted by Mr.T:
Originally Posted by baseman:

Nonsense, this is voodoo economics.  Almost every nation, including the US and all of Europe give price guarantees to farmers.  In a perfect market, this ensures adequate supplies as for food, you need supply to equal demand.

The EU does not give price guarantee to the farmers. That's another lie that you just invented. Many farmers trade directly with supermarkets etc., who decide what they are willing to pay.

Some farmers receive a subsidy on some products, but the subsidy does not cover the cost of the farmers in producing the product in each country.

Yes clown they do, they give price guarantees and the excess production is dumped on the world spot market, many times below costs.  You are a fool.  You live there are don't even know how the food gets to your table.

Those days are long over. There are no more price guarantees on anything. It is now all market forces driven under the WTO Free Trade agreement, where other non-EU countries can bring in and sell their products cheaper if they are able to. Framers have been dumping milk, vegetables, and fruits all over the EU in protest against the cost of production versus the amount they get when selling their produce. That's because market prices have dropped on many items. This puts your ridiculous claims into perspective. Guyana has not received any dumped EU produce, so any such claims by you are just a bunch of idiotic lies.

Guyans does receive, Guyana traders buy cheap potatoes, etc on spot and import into Guyana.

 

All the developed nations give price guarantees, for example, the USA is that largest technical purchaser of food, milk, etc.  The EU members, Swiss, etc offer "back-stop" support to there farmers.  This is why these countries have stable and adequate food supplies with ample strategic reserves.  Without Govt intervention, it would benefit farmers to allow some supply stress and get better prices for what they produce. Of course, this means those on the fringe will be exposed to malnourishment.

The spot market is an international market that sells just about everything. Tankers full of crude oil is just on example. It sells based on demand and supply. Switzerland is not a member of the EU. I think that you are well confused about the EU common agricultural policy.

Mr.T
Originally Posted by baseman:
Originally Posted by caribny:

Demanding guaranteed prices is nonsense, as rice is a commodity and prices vary based on market conditions. The PPP didnt guarantee prices, and the arrangement with Venezuela was a political deal, not a market based deal, and therefore not sustainable.

 

However there is a long standing issue between the rice millers and the rice farmers.  This generated protests against the PPP, so APNU/AFC was well aware of this issue and spoke to it.  Now they are in power, they need to assist the industry to resolve this issue.

 

Guyanese production costs are high. Again the gov't needs to work with the industry to see about reducing costs, to enable Guyana to take advantage of the market opportunities which exist.

 

UNlike some, I give sections of the industry credit as they were quite vocal against what was happening to them under the PPP.  They have EARNED the right to similarly protest under APNU/AFC.

 

And they are right.  Granger was stupid to say that there isnt a crisis in the rice industry when prior to the elections APNU/AFC made much of the fact that there WAS a crisis.

 

I continue to see APNU/AFC meandering and not understanding that when the won the election, they were given the opportunity to work with the population to find solutions to the myriad of problems which the nation faces.

Nonsense, this is voodoo economics.  Almost every nation, including the US and all of Europe give price guarantees to farmers.  In a perfect market, this ensures adequate supplies as for food, you need supply to equal demand.  To guarantee this, you need a certain amount of over capacity to allow for bad crops, bad weather, bad harvest.  The last thing you want is for a tight market where and small shortage result in famine.

 

Regarding the export, you need the same to ensure you can fulfill contract obligations as the purchaser has mouths to feed.

 

The rice farmers need to be paid or the old PNC outcomes will be realized.

Nations indeed offer subsidy. They do not bootstrap an entire industry with subsidy when t hey have no money. The sugar industry is already determined to be in need or reorganization because of its over reliance on subsidy. The rice industry has to face the same. We have maintained the same old habits from colonial times. We need to change. The government needs to get out of the rice business.It needs to allow other non governmental mechanisms to develop to market rice.

 

The PPP could not get out because it was a lucrative source for graft. The deal with the Venezuelans made many indians into rich men given the skimming and favoritism offered in the structuring the poncy scheme on the heads of farmers. Had they managed that well then indeed we would have a reservoir of cash to subsidize farmers in need of aid in these trying times as we find new markets. The money is stolen, there is no reserve so . the market is lost so why maintain the price artificially? Where will we get the money?

FM
Originally Posted by baseman:
 

You are a racists fool and try to excuse PNC racism. 

The PPP told bauxite workers to drop dead and did NOTHING to help those who were fired by the Russians and the Chinese.  Those in the gold sector survive or fail, based on how well or how poorly gold performs.  The assistance they get is in he form of some tax concessions and duty waivers.  NOT direct price guarantees.

 

APNU/AFC is doing MORE to help rice farmers, than the PPP ever did to help the mining sector.  The rice industry is privately owned, and should stop demanding that gov't guarantees prices, or finds them markets.  It can merely assist.  It cannot do for them, unless they wish gov't to take over ownership.

 

In addition there were several rice farmer riots when the PPP was in power so please don't pretend as if all their woes were since the PPP lost power.  In fact I do recall the RPA threatening to tell their members not to vote PPP.

FM
Originally Posted by asj:

Rice farmers to Govt: “Give us the $23B now”

As local industry wilts

– Hundreds protest against Govt’s alleged deception

The $23 billion promised by the David Granger-led A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government to the challenged rice industry is still to be paid, and farmers are at their wits’ end as the situation, for which they were earnestly promised relief, worsens.

Close to 400 rice farmers from across the country flocked the outskirts of the Agriculture Ministry on Thursday, and although they put on a peaceful protest, their cries for help and relief were loud. Farmers travelled from as far as Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) and the Upper Corentyne, Berbice Region hoping to send a message to the new Government, that it has a responsibility to keep its promises.

The close to 400 farmers along the Vlissengen Road entrance to the Agriculture Ministry

The close to 400 farmers along the Vlissengen Road entrance to the Agriculture Ministry

Finance Minister Winston Jordan, when he presented the country’s largest budget ever on August 10, had declared that Government had set aside some $23 billion for the industry, which was already feeling the brunt of Government’s fallout with neighbouring Venezuela, through the PetroCaribe deal. Farmers had begun pleading with Government to work towards the restoration of that deal, which benefited the more than 7000 rice farmers across the country. The farmers are also claiming the promise made by the Government, during its time on the campaign trail, that it would make available payments of up to $9000 per bag of paddy.

But those promises, according to the farmers, were a mere sham, as Government, up until now, cannot say where the money is, or when it will be paid.

Hurting A week into the new crop, farmers are hurting, at least that is what they expressed while speaking with this publication before peacefully marching around the Ministry, encircling the Ministry of the Presidency as well. The prices farmers are receiving per paddy vary across the country. According to them, they are now being offered as low as $800 per bag and at the most $1900, in some regions.

“We are not begging for $7000 and $8000, give us what we were receiving last crop, that’s all we want,” a West Coast Demerara farmer identified as Kardial told Guyana Times.

“We need $4000 per bag paddy, because we have these problems with fertilisers and drugs. We presently have things with the bank and those things ; $2000 per bag cannot do anything for us. And if we make this rice industry fall and the sugar industry fall, it means all of us without counting colours or races, all of us will punish in this country,” said Ramchand, a farmer from the West Coast.

He said the last crop farmers in his region were receiving $3000 -$3500 per bag paddy, and even with that amount, there were tremendous difficulties.

Another farmer from Black Bush Polder, Corentyne, Narvin Ramdin said “the $1900 and $1800 we receiving cannot compensate us. One plot rice cost about one million dollars and the bank coming and take everything you have.

Now you know long time you know your children would cry, now a papa a cry more than the children. The farmers are frustrated.” He said if Government could give the farmers at least $3000 that should be able to get them back on their feet.

Another Yakusari, Black Bush Polder farmer, Lionel Soman told Guyana Times that added to the issue of low paddy prices is the non-payment of monies from last crop.

“We have another problem added to this. We sell rice over five months ago and we cannot get our monies as yet. We hear that they have given rice farmers and millers, but I want them to come see that the rice millers pay us our money.” He said since last month he owes some $2million on his truck and was fearful that it could be taken away.

Representing the farmers from Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), Ramlagan Singh said Government should seek to renew the Petro Caribe deal, which he said has helped him and the thousands of farmers over the last 10 years.

“We are asking them to go back and renegotiate the deal so that we could get better prices for our paddy. Added to that many of the millers have not paid the farmers in Region Six, and now this coming crop, the farmers are getting now an average between $1500 to $2400 per bag paddy.”

He said this was most ridiculous since the cost of production per bag paddy is $3000 and the farmers were getting $2000. As such, he said Government must intervene to save the rice industry; the main pillar of the economy.

Grim While many of the farmers shouted in unison for better conditions, others silently held their placards, sending a grim message to Government for it to intervene, or suffer the consequences.

There were talks that the farmers, who may not gather in such a capacity at any one time for now, will carry out their protests in their respective region, an activity they hope to continue until Government listens to their cries.

Rice Producers Association (RPA)  General Secretary Dharmkumar Seeraj said the new Administration has duped the hapless farmers.  He said his enquiries of government’s promised $23 billion have come up empty as neither the Minister of Agriculture or the Minister of Finance who made the announcement could give any information.

Seeraj said the industry under the current Administration was bound to suffer blows as no attempt was being made to arrest the situation, which is leaving the many farmers. He added that while Government has stepped in for an equally important industry – the mining sector, the same attention should be paid to the rice industry.

“Rice over the years has been the largest earner of foreign exchange for this country. It is the best vehicle for rural development…. Rice has been pumping up this economy. Now if you are going to turn a blind eye to your largest earner, then you don’t have the interest of the country at heart, if you are going to concentrate on a few miners and leave out your largest foreign exchange earner, you shooting yourself in the foot,” he said.

He said right now the only way to address this issue was for Government to find the money that was promised to the farmers.

 

Another lie from Ko Ko Beah PNC. Ricer farmers will start the Spring Uprising in Guyana. Sugar workers will follow soon.

FM
Last edited by Former Member

APNU/AFC allies say Govt betrayed Rice Farmers 

Missing $23B Budget “allocation”  for rice sector…

– shocked at silence of Agri Minister

Following Finance Minister Winston Jordan’s admission that the $23 billion was never intended for rice farmers, the Rice Producers Association (RPA) Action Committee comprising Dr Turhane Doerga and Jinnah Rahman , who had staunchly supported the APNU/AFC coalition during the campaign, have responded saying that government’s position is “disappointing”, “devastating” and “confusing”.

Dr Turhane Doerga [left) and Chairman of the Rice Producers’ Action Committee (RPAC) Jinnah Rahman

Dr Turhane Doerga (left) and Chairman of the Rice Producers’ Action Committee (RPAC) Jinnah Rahman

Following immense pressure from society and the massive protest staged by over 400 rice farmers from across the country for the release of the $23 billion, Jordan finally, in an invited comment to the Guyana Times, said the money does not belong to the rice farmers though during his Budget presentation, even though he had given the impression that the funds would go directly to the struggling farmers.

However, after being silent for so long- allowing the rice farmers to believe that they would finally be relieved, Jordan’s revelation that the money had done towards “shipping rice to Venezuela” has taken by many surprise- including the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change aligned RPA Action Committee.

In an invited comment, Dr Doerga said he is extremely disappointed and devastated to hear about these developments and that it appears that not even Government cares about the future of the rice farmer and the rice industry.

“Apparently it appears that nobody cares what’s going to happen with the rice farmers,” he said.

He alluded to the fact that never in the history of Guyana did such a large number of rice farmers travel all the way to Georgetown to stage a protest; concluding that the situation is clearly in a dreaded state for these farmers to go to this extreme for their voices and struggles to be heard.

“Indian people, their culture is a little bit different, they are ashamed to say that they don’t have money, they are ashamed to say that they owe the bank, they are ashamed to say they already got letters threatening to auction their property. We’re not very vocal people going out there… The amount of rice farmers that came down to protest, never in the history of Guyana was this done in Georgetown…What does that tell you? Never in the history of the rice industry you had so much rice farmers protesting in Georgetown, it tells you the level of misery at this moment,” Dr Doerga reasoned.

He added that it is extremely worrying that even amid everything that is happening, the Minister of Agriculture Noel Holder- who is mandated to be responsible for the rice farmers has remained silent through it all.

“You know what shocks me, is the silence of the Minister of Agriculture and therefore the AFC. It shocks me, I am completely lost. The mere fact that so many people came down tells you how bad it is… What is going to happen to the rice industry?” he pondered.

Similarly, Rahman told this publication that the situation is rather confusing yet not a word is being uttered by the persons in charge.

“They are not explaining things even though they have access the state media and the communication system…They are not explaining to the people…People have questions,” he stated.

Further, he disclosed that he is not even sure where government will be sourcing the $23 billion- which it now claims will be used for “rice shipment”.

“I don’t know where they got this 23B…If they discussed with the farmers or if they consulted anybody like me. We don’t know anything that is going on,” Rahman related.

On Friday, the Finance Minister told this newspaper that his announcement of providing $23 billion to the rice industry is not to pay farmers, but to assist in the shipment of rice to Venezuela. He still did not address the contention that the sum was not “real” nor exactly to which entities the $23B was paid. The sum would represent payment for an entire year’s shipment of 200,000 tonnes of rice to Venezuela.

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo had made the shocking disclosure when he rose to debate the Budget, revealing in the process that the $23 billion announced by Jordan was not real or liquid money but just a paper transaction by the Government.

In addition to demanding the release of the $23 billion, the rice farmers who had gathered in front the Agriculture Ministry and the Ministry of the Presidency, also demanded that Government honour its promise of paying $9000 per bag of paddy.

Solution Meanwhile, in hoping to address the issue, Dr Doerga said for his part, there needs to be a more professional Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) to look at solutions that need to be acted upon to help the rice industry in its current time of crisis. Moreover, he called for both the government and the opposition to not let their differences cloud their judgment of the real issue and instead of engaging in a back and forth war of words, they should work together to help the rice farmers and save the rice industry.

For Rahman’s part, he said will immediately make contact with the Minister of Finance to get clarity on the issue.

FM

APNU/AFC coalition has  positioned rice on the  road to destruction

Dear Editor, Make no mistake about it – the rice industry is in crisis. David Granger, Moses Nagamootoo and their Finance and Agriculture Ministers have argued that there is no crisis in the rice industry. But the present unwillingness to assist the industry and the rice farmers is the start of a sad story, a story of the rice industry being positioned to fail. Mark my word, the industry will begin to see an exodus of rice farmers from the fields, like in the 1980s, unless the A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) remedies the situation. The rice industry needs the Government’s support now. APNU/AFC needs to prove that the budgeted $23 billion as well as the promised $9000 per bag of paddy isn’t an illusion. The present $1500 to $2200 per bag of paddy being offered to farmers is not acceptable and it is no substitute for the $9000 promised before the elections. The Government needs to make the budgeted $23 billion available to the industry now. For the Finance Minister to say he does not quite understand where the money is in the budget is another voodoo economics ploy. The rice farmers have been abandoned by a Government which pretended to be their friends before the elections. The rice farmers’ votes which were bought by the APNU/AFC were rewarded with betrayal. Now the Government argues that the rice industry is a Private Sector business and that the transactions between millers and farmers are private. The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) supported the Private Sector nature of the rice industry, but also embraced the notion that the rice industry is a critical to our development and understood that Government support was an imperative. Rice farmers are generally not rich people. They work hard to make a living. Even more important, the rice farmers have ensured that the rice industry has grown over the years to become one of Guyana’s top GDP earners. The industry is in the top five for GDP contributors and is presently at the top for export earnings. No industry has contributed more to the reduction of poverty and hunger in our country than the rice industry. It is incumbent for the Government of the day to ensure that the rice industry receives maximum support. The rice industry has earned an important place in our social and economic development. It’s not a charity or handout as Keith Scott had called it in during the 2014 budget debate, but out of necessity that the Government must support the industry. Such support is in the social and economic interest of the people of Guyana. The PPP has always supported and catalysed the growth of the rice industry. It was an early Cheddi Jagan-led PPP Government that saw rice reaching 100,000 tonnes production by 1960 and 200,000 tonnes production by 1964. It was under the PPP that exports reached 100,000 tonness by 1964. Before 1992, there was a production of 100,000 tonnes and less than 40,000 tonnes in export. Under the PPP, production surpassed 600,000 tonnes with 500,000 tonnes in export in 2014, a remarkable development story. From a handful of countries in 1990, Guyana was exporting to 33 countries by the end of 2014. Prices for paddy which had been less than US$3 per bag in the early 1990s rose to US$15 and then US$25 per bag by the end of 2014. The People’s National Congress, however, destroyed the booming rice industry it inherited in the 1960s. From record breaking highs in production and export, the industry sunk to record-breaking lows by 1990. In the 1970s and 1980s, the party effectively killed the rice industry which wasn’t mere mismanagement, but a deliberate act to punish rice farmers perceived as supporters of the late Cheddi Jagan and the PPP. The present APNU/AFC non-action in ensuring that all rice farmers are paid for their paddy is not just an oversight; it is very much part of the strategy for rice farmers not to be able to return to production. The harvesting of the second crop for 2015 has already begun. It is expected that more than 500,000 tonnes or the equivalent of eight million bags of paddy will be produced by farmers for the second crop of 2015. Yet farmers are still owed about $1 billion for paddy they sold to millers during the first crop of 2015. During the tenure of the PPP, the Government intervened in every crop and made certain that millers paid the farmers before the next crop started. In some instances, the PPP Government even loaned money to the millers to ensure that the farmers were paid before harvesting of the next crop. This was a proactive support mechanism that nurtured and increased the growth of the rice industry in Guyana. In Opposition, APNU/AFC saw support to the industry ashandouts to rice farmers. It had argued, as Carl Greenidge did, that the industry is a private business and that Government has no business intervening in the transactions between millers and farmers. The PPP believes that support to the industry, including finding markets and ensuring farmers are paid a fair price and receive timely payments, are imperatives for the social and economic development of our country.

 

Dr Leslie Ramsammy

FM

The rice industry needs the Government’s support now. APNU/AFC needs to prove that the budgeted $23 billion as well as the promised $9000 per bag of paddy isn’t an illusion. The present $1500 to $2200 per bag of paddy being offered to farmers is not acceptable and it is no substitute for the $9000 promised before the elections.

FM
Originally Posted by asj:

Dr Turhane Doerga [left) and Chairman of the Rice Producers’ Action Committee [RPAC) Jinnah Rahman

Dr Turhane Doerga (left) and Chairman of the Rice Producers’ Action Committee (RPAC) Jinnah Rahman

. . . “Indian people, their culture is a little bit different, they are ashamed to say that they don’t have money, they are ashamed to say that they owe the bank, they are ashamed to say they already got letters threatening to auction their property. We’re not very vocal people going out there… The amount of rice farmers that came down to protest, never in the history of Guyana was this done in Georgetown…What does that tell you? Never in the history of the rice industry you had so much rice farmers protesting in Georgetown, it tells you the level of misery at this moment,” Dr Doerga reasoned."

i am at a loss at how this now becomes an issue of "Indian people, their culture . . ."

 

these skonts, these so-called "coalition supporters" like Turhane Doerga now doing ignoble PPP race wuk need to do a lot of soul-searching (especially the dark spaces on lockdown) and check their motivation(s)

 

smfh

FM
Originally Posted by redux:
 

i am at a loss at how this now becomes an issue of "Indian people, their culture . . ."

 

these skonts, these so-called "coalition supporters" like Turhane Doerga now doing ignoble PPP race wuk need to do a lot of soul-searching (especially the dark spaces on lockdown) and check their motivation(s)

 

smfh

What can I say?  I always was suspect about the commitment of large numbers of AFC Indos to national unity. 

 

Thousands of bauxite workers are losing their jobs, but I hear no one asking for any bail out for them.

FM

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