| …new markets must be pursuedAlthough there are projections that the rice industry will reap a record breaking harvest for the year 2015, millers and farmers are maintaining that something must be done by the Government to ensure that more markets are found for Guyana’s best performing crop.Dr. Turhane Doerga,Cheap Authentic Jerseys, former CEO of Alesie Group called for the Government to have professionals brought in to determine the way forward with the rice industry.Otherwise, he said, the price for paddy, which is currently hovering at $2800 per bag, could very well drop to $2000 per bag by the next crop.Dr. Turhane Doerga“The People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) told us to buy for $3000 per bag, we have markets. It seems the PPP/C had no (major buying) markets, save for Venezuela.”According to him, if market shortage is not addressed urgently, Guyana would be left with 200,000 tonnes of paddy in the system, with a further 500,000 tonnes expected to come in with the next crop.He noted that while the past administration would have been deceitful about available markets, the millers know that there are enough markets in the world.Martin Persaud of Caribee Rice also noted that the Government ought to consult with millers and the exporters.However, he also pointed out that current import/export levels,Wholesale MLB Jerseys, market price and consumption were all factors that had to be taken into account before new markets could be explored.According to him, initiatives undertaken in the rice industry could no longer be done ‘willy nilly’ as before, but must be arrived at through careful and professional planning.Guyana’s rice production has already exceeded its first quarter target. Initial figures from the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) were that 2015’s first quarter harvest, as of late last week,Wholesale NBA Jerseys, stood at 94.7% completion with 355,Wholesale NFL Jerseys Authentic,000 tonnes already harvested, in excess of the initial target of 313,000 tonnes by some 42,000.This is a trend that has repeated itself each year since 2013, when the country’s overall rice production surpassed 500,000 tonnes, the first time such a feat had occurred.The year before, 2012, rice production had also peaked at 422,058 tonnes, thus making the 2013 figures representative of a 27% increase.Ministry of Agriculture excavators have been working to desilt the clogged outfall canal in Windsor Castle and Capoey over the past week.Venezuela is by far Guyana’s largest overseas market for rice, courtesy of the Petrocaribe, ‘oil for rice’ agreement.Under the agreement, Guyana purchases Venezuelan oil at the market value for five to fifteen % up front, with a grace period of one to two years.In return, Guyana supplies rice and uses some of the outstanding oil money to pay local farmers through the Ministry of Finance and the GRDB.Guyana also exports rice to countries within the CARICOM and European markets.Meanwhile,Cheap China Jerseys, farmers are calling on the Government to take appropriate measures to limit the damage that Guyana’s rainy season has been known to do to rice crops.Essequibo rice farmers recently received a flood advisory from the Region Two Administration. They were warned to prepare for three days of high intensity rainfall.In an interview with Kaieteur News, one rice farmer described the scenario as a very bleak one. According to him, Anna Regina to Golden Fleece, Essequibo Coast was in the throes of heavy rainfall, coupled with the inadequate drainage system.In addition, he said, many farmers have been forced to incur additional expenses by acquiring their own pumps at a cost of $215,000 each.He lamented that this was a yearly occurrence and that the previous administration would normally wait until the flooding situation was truly abysmal before stepping in.He also provided insight into the price per bag of paddy. According to him,Basket Adidas Pas Cher France, the price during the last crop was a dismal $2200 per bag, when expenditure is always uncertain and farmers are looking for at least $4000 per bag to clear expenses.He compared this with the price of fertilizer which he tagged at $5000 per bag. This he said was a situation whereby all a farmer’s returns were being reinvested in fertilizer alone. |
