The Alliance For Change welcomes the renewal of the rice deal between Guyana and Venezuela for shipment of some 120,000 tons of padi to our neighbour.
This comes as great relief to our hardworking rice farmers and millers, the latter having to restrict in-take of padi during this current crop.
The uncertainty over the Venezuela market has also played a part in the downward slide in padi prices, the biggest impact being felt in Essequibo which resulted in courageous protest action by affected farmers.
The AFC calls on the government to immediately cause a review of recent grading and pricing of paddy, and to set aside an escrow sum from the intended sale to pay farmers promptly for their produce should the millers fail to do so after the required period.
The AFC feels that whilst other markets should be explored, this would be a good time for government to bring in pesticides and fertilisers of approved quality for supply to rice farmers, so they could be compensated with bumper crops for losses recently suffered.
AFC again applauds Essequibo and West Demerara farmers for highlighting their plight and for exposing the sell-out of their interest by the Rice Producers Association and Guyana Rice Development Board.

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