Rice farmers to receive cash aid next week – gov’t

Rice farmers across Guyana are expected to begin receiving government’s cash assistance from next week following the completion of a verification exercise by the Ministry of Agriculture and the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB).

In a statement yesterday, the Ministry of Agriculture said the payments fulfil a commitment made by President Irfaan Ali during a consultation with hundreds of rice farmers at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre on April 30.

According to the ministry, the GRDB has completed the registration of eligible farmers and, following the conclusion of the harvest, verified claims to ensure transparency and accountability.

The ministry said the verification process has now been completed, paving the way for the commencement of payments.

Farmers cultivating 50 acres or less will receive $15,000 per acre, while those cultivating more than 50 acres will receive $10,000 per acre.

Approximately $3 billion has been allocated for the initiative, which the ministry said is aimed at supporting rice farmers, safeguarding livelihoods and strengthening the rice industry.

According to the Department of Public Information (DPI) at the April 30 consultation, President Ali announced that the government would set aside $3 billion to assist rice farmers in response to rising global challenges affecting the sector, including increasing fertiliser and fuel costs, shipping disruptions and declining rice prices. During the meeting, farmers were presented with several support options, including fertiliser assistance, acreage-based payments and direct cash transfers, with the majority opting for direct cash assistance.

The President had also said the assistance would be targeted at active rice farmers and stressed that the government intended to continue supporting what he described as the backbone of the industry while pursuing measures to improve productivity and diversify farmers’ income.

The Ministry of Agriculture said the government remains committed to working with rice farmers to ensure the sector remains competitive while contributing to national food security, economic growth and rural development.