Georgetown: Guyanese rice farmers could be soon benefitting from the new, Mexico market, as the country has signaled its intention to fast track a paddy deal with Guyana, even as Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo continues to seek buyers for local farmers’ rice.
Today, the Office of the Prime Minister reported that the Mexican Agriculture Minister Jose Calzada has now given the assurance that he would fast track arrangements to buy Guyana’s paddy. Further, he has made a commitment to encourage the private sector to enter into contracts with Guyanese millers. Paddy imports carry a 9% tariff.
On October 27, the Office of the Prime Minister reported that Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, whilst attending the Open Governance Summit in Mexico City, met with Minister Calzada, during which a commitment was made, to buy some of the country’s paddy.
The new administration has prioritised assisting farmers to find alternative international markets, in light of the country’s continued production boom, and in the midst of its recent loss of a major market in Venezuela.
The Mexico market is one of many being explored by the administration.
Guyana’s production in the first half of 2015 was 359,960 tonnes, 15.3 percent more than last year's record high, first-half production of 312,283 tonnes.
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