The Essequibo Paddy Farmers Association is calling for a meeting with the Minister of Agriculture or the President to address a number of concerns affecting them. Last Friday, March 7th paddy farmers were forced to state a protest at Anna Regina to highlight their situation.
If present conditions continue, the very livelihood of Essequibo paddy farmers will be threatened as the price offered by millers cannot compensate the paddy farmers for the effort and resources they put into their crops. Last year farmers were receiving about $4000 for a bag of paddy. This year the highest price being offered is $3,100 for a bag of paddy. This is way below the cost of production and at this rate the paddy farmers cannot sustain their crops and maintain their families.
At the end of the 2013 rice crop, some 120,000 tonnes of paddy was still in the system and had not been marketed. This has contributed to a glut in the market and the millers are using this to keep down the price they are offering the farmers.
Also of concern to the Essequibo paddy farmers is the promise of retroactive payment that the Agriculture Minister had promised. During 2013 when there was infestation of bugs, the millers took 180-200 lbs per bag instead of the usual 140-150 lbs depending on moisture and dockage. At a meeting with the Minister, it was promised that the millers would make retroactive payments to the farmers to cover the additional weight. This has not materialised and the farmers have heard nothing further either from the Minister or the millers.
The paddy farmers are also calling for the names of those millers who owe paddy farmers to be published in the newspapers so that farmers will know which miller is in default. Since the last crop some farmers have not been paid for their paddy while others have received only part payment. It is believed that some $60 million is still owed to farmers. No interest on he amount owed is being paid to farmers as is stipulated in the Rice Factory Act.
Until their concerns are addressed the paddy farmers at Essequibo will continue their protest action. Another will be held this Friday, March 14th at Anna Regina High Bridge Square. The Association is calling on paddy farmers across the country to support this activity.
March 13th 2014
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