Over $1.18B in cash grants distributed to Region Five rice farmers

Rice farmers in Region Five on Wednesday received more than $1.18 billion in cash grants, the largest allocation under the government’s nationwide rice farmers’ support programme.

A total of 1,387 farmers, who cultivated 104,519 acres of rice during the last crop, are benefitting from the financial assistance.

Rosalyn Bacchus, who has been farming for about two years, said the cash grant will provide much-needed support to farmers facing losses and encourage them to continue cultivating rice.

She expressed gratitude to the government, particularly President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali and Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha, for the assistance, describing it as a timely contribution to the farming community.

Another farmer, Chandanie Kissoon, noted that the cash grant will help her recover from significant losses incurred during production.

She noted that farmers have had to invest heavily from their own resources; thus, the assistance is timely and meaningful.

Kissoon also expressed appreciation to the government for their continued support to rice farmers across Guyana.

Minister Mustapha said the distribution fulfils a commitment made by President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali following consultations with rice farmers earlier this year.

“This is not only simply the distribution of cheques and cash grants. Today is about keeping a promise. As a government, we take our promises very seriously,” the minister told farmers. “This is not a charity nor is it for political favours. It is an investment in production, in food security and an investment in the people who continue to produce despite global uncertainty.”

The minister explained that the government intervened to cushion farmers from falling international rice prices and rising production costs, caused by global market conditions and geopolitical conflicts.

He noted that over the past several years, the government has provided extensive support to the rice industry, including fertiliser subsidies, cash assistance, the removal of export commissions on rice, and the reversal of increased land rental and drainage and irrigation charges imposed by the previous administration.

According to him, the government has subsidised the Guyana Rice Development Board’s export commission since 2023, amounting to hundreds of millions of dollars annually.

Region Five accounts for the largest rice cultivation area in the country, underscoring its critical role in Guyana’s agricultural production.

Nationwide, some $2.76 billion is being distributed to rice farmers across Regions Two, Three, Four, Five and Six under the latest cash grant initiative. [DPI]