[www.inewsguyana.com] – The first shipment of about 6,000 tonnes of paddy due for Venezuela, began loading at the Muneshwers’ Wharf, Georgetown.
Agriculture Minister Dr. Leslie Ramsammy told the Government Information Agency that this first shipment for 2014 is expected to sail early this morning (April 22).
He said that another shipment is expected to depart in two days from the same facility. About 100,000 tonnes of rice and paddy are expected to be shipped to the neighbouring country by the end of April.
It is anticipated that a maximum of two shipments per week will be exported until November, later this year. A total of 200,000 tonnes of rice and paddy are due to be exported for the period to the Spanish-speaking country. This year’s initial rice shipments were delayed due to the civil unrest in Venezuela.
Minister Ramsammy said about 400,000 tonnes of rice and paddy are to be exported for this year. The rice pact was initiated in 2010 between former President Bharrat Jagdeo and the late Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez. The agreement aims to strengthen food security in both countries. [GINA]
