US$48 M rice deal signed- Guyana secures another rice agreement with Venezuela

Georgetown : Another rice agreement has been sealed between Guyana and Venezuela that will pave the way for Guyana to export 30,000 tonnes of white rice at the cost of US$800 per metric tonne and 50,000 tonnes of paddy at the cost of US$480 per metric tonne to neighbouring Venezuela.

Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud while updating the media on the said, this shipment will be higher in quality and value as compared to the previous contract where 20,000 tonnes of white rice and 50,000 tonnes of paddy were exported.
 He said the agreement comes at a critical period where a bumper-crop is expected, and farmers must be complimented for the efforts notwithstanding the effects of the La Nina weather pattern.

Minister Persaud said by the end of the week the first shipment of rice is expected to depart as   the first shipment of 5000 tonnes   of paddy is being loaded for Venezuela. A second vessel is expected to leave very soon.

 The Ministry of Agriculture has been actively pursuing markets around the world with emphasis on those geographically close to Guyana such as neighbouring Trinidad, Suriname, Jamaica and Haiti.