C-tax waived for Rupununi peanut farmers
Stabroek News
March 15, 2003
Peanut production in the Rupununi could flourish with the government's decision to waive a 30% consumption tax.
This was disclosed to peanut farmers at a recently concluded workshop on the development of the peanut industry in Region Nine. The workshop was organised by the Beacon Foundation, the Regional Democratic Council Region Nine and the North Rupununi Development Agricultural Producers Association, and was attended by over 80 farmers. The import taxes for herbicide and fungicide have also been waived, according to a Region 9 administration press release.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Go-Invest Geoffrey Da Silva told farmers that since local manufacturers were interested in the proposal of supporting the local industry, they should try to triple the production of quality peanuts so as to maintain the local market. This challenge could be reached through a partnership approach between the farmer, purchaser, manufacturer and with the support of the government.
At the moment, Omai Packaging and Manufacturing Company and Tandy's Manufacturing have expressed an interest in purchasing all the peanuts from the Rupununi. Tandy's manager, Rodwell Denny, said that his company was importing over 120,000lbs annually for its operation. He added that the Rupununi produced a high quality organically grown peanut since no fertilizer was used. Because of this, nuts from the Rupununi could be stored longer.
Recent figures have shown that over 500,000 lbs of peanuts had been produced over a three-year period.
One peanut farmer who is also a purchaser said production could quickly triple once the price was right.
At the moment farmers are receiving $80 per lb for peanuts. This price could be affected with the introduction of a $25,000 toll charge for trucks transporting 8000 lbs on the Lethem/Mabura road.
It was suggested that farmers, purchasers and manufacturers engage in more detailed discussions to arrive at an agreeable pricing for peanuts, since the peanut crop would soon commence.
It was also agreed that farmers should seek assistance in setting up silos to store peanuts for sale and for those to be used as seed material. Farmers also called for the establishment of an agricultural input centre at Lethem to assist farmers.
The National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI) will provide soil tests for farmers of Region Nine through the Beacon Foundation based in Lethem.
