The accord reached between the Government and the Guyana Association of Bankers gives them more of a breathing space and a better chance to move on.

It is no secret that farming is labourious and painstaking work and a high degree of risk is involved.

One drought or one period of heavy flooding can destroy a lifetime of sacrifice, toil, blood and sweat by hardworking farmers who, despite great odds at times, persist in feeding this nation and others while earning a livelihood for their families.

Perhaps those who are aware of rice or vegetables only when these arrive on their plates should stop to think about and appreciate the sacrifices of those who are responsible for those food items being on the table.

When many are in the nightclubs or at a picnic having a ball or asleep, the farmer usually has to be in the fields toiling - whether it is raining or the sun is at its blistering glory. These are hard facts that must be acknowledged and appreciated.

Therefore, it was a great achievement on the part of all those who were involved in brokering such a vitally needed agreement on relief to rice farmers and millers.

According to the agreement reached between the Government and the bankers all unpaid interest on non-performing loans will be written off, apart from other concessions.

The agreement is a vindication of the Government's commitment to uplifting the welfare of farmers.

It also came amid attempts by some in campaigns to sow seeds of discord and discontent among farmers by claiming that the Government was not interested in their welfare.

On Wednesday, Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Navin Chandrapal and General Secretary of the Rice Producers Association (RPA), Mr. Dharamkumar Seeraj met farmers at the Nouvelle-Flanders/La Jalousie Neighbourhood Democratic Office, based at Windsor Forest, West Coast Demerara to explain the various features of the agreement.

This will be followed with meetings in other rice farming areas.

There is also an important lesson to be learnt from this achievement and that is that negotiations should always be the primary road towards resolving a difficulty.

This is an example of how genuine commitment and an inexhaustible search for solutions on the part of all parties involved can be successful.

Hats off to the banking community and the Government of Guyana for a successful resolution to a difficult problem.

More such collaboration and cooperation is needed to move Guyana along the path of peace, unity, progress and prosperity.