Georgetown : President David Granger called on citizens to “disabuse” themselves of the notion that the industry is in “crisis”, even as he acknowledged that there are some challenges. The Head of State was at the time delivering the feature address at the Ministry of Agriculture’s National Rice Industry Conference, which was held under the theme, “Sustainable development amidst challenges”.
In front of a packed audience at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre, President Granger assured stakeholders that his administration, like the entire country, is aware of the problems facing the industry and his government intends to bring an end “to the anxieties endured by those involved in rice production”.
“Rice faces challenges because of years of policy neglect, institutional decay and poor planning. We must convert these challenges into opportunities. I am confident that with the collaboration between the administration and stakeholders, the rice industry will overcome its challenges,” he said. President Granger expressed optimism about the future of the industry noting the high level of expertise and experience possessed by its stakeholders.
Speaking on the importance of the industry, President Granger said, rice plays a significant role in Guyana’s history, society and the economy. Currently, rice sustains the livelihoods of over 20 percent of the country’s population, creates jobs for thousands and is the only source of income for hundreds of farmers.
He said, “Rice has historically been resilient; rice has survived floods and droughts, rice has survived the volatilities of international markets…rice has always overcome its challenges.”
Noting that currently Guyana has about 40 external rice markets around the world and exports as much as 75 percent of the rice produced here, President Granger said that expanding markets continues to be a priority for this administration.
You must be logged in to post a comment.