A total of 560 rice farmers in Region Three received $201.7 million in cash grants yesterday under the government’s acreage support programme.
Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha said the farmers, who cultivated 15,636 acres during the last rice crop, received a combined payment of $201,696,055.
Under the programme, farmers cultivating 50 acres or less received $15,000 per acre, while those cultivating more than 50 acres received $10,000 per acre.
Mustapha said the grants form part of a nationwide initiative valued at $2.763 billion, aimed at providing direct financial support to rice farmers.
The distribution follows the rollout of the programme in Region Two, where approximately 1,301 farmers received $403,149,360 in grants
Mustapha also highlighted a number of interventions aimed at supporting Guyana’s rice sector, including infrastructure upgrades, input assistance and efforts to reduce production costs for farmers.
Mustapha said the government has provided assistance through fertilizer distribution, cash support, drainage and irrigation works, farm-to-market roads, bridges and other infrastructure projects.
He said rice production has increased from approximately 550,000 tonnes in 2020 to 825,000 tonnes last year, which he attributed to improved infrastructure, new high-yielding rice varieties and support provided to farmers.
He noted that the government has also been working to maintain support for paddy prices through measures such as the waiver of the Guyana Rice Development Board’s export commission, which he said amounts to approximately $650 million to $700 million annually
The minister said the government is pursuing additional markets for Guyanese rice, including opportunities in Mexico, Haiti, Cuba and the CARICOM region.
He also announced plans for further modernization of the sector, including the introduction of drone technology to assist farmers with activities such as spraying and fertilizer application, as well as initiatives to encourage diversification into livestock and high-value crops.
Mustapha said additional infrastructure projects are planned for Region Three, including new farm-to-market roads, drainage canals and pump stations to improve agricultural operations.
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