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This disclosure was made by Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Dr. Dindyal Permaul at a press conference hosted by the Ministry last Friday.
He indicated that the funding is being channeled through the CARIFORUM/European Union (EU) development assistance programme, geared towards helping Caribbean countries to equip themselves for the emerging international free trade. The funding would be over a six-year period.
As regards the utilization of the funding, presently the focus is on two areas - the appointment of a National Steering Committee and the formation of a Project Monitoring body, and proposals are currently being refined, Dr. Permaul disclosed.
In addition, the rice industry would benefit from an EU soft loan of 3.2M Euros for the procurement of machinery and equipment to be utilized in the drainage and irrigation sector, Dr. Permaul reported. He pointed out too that under the Agriculture Support Services System (ASSP) US$3.4M is being made available to support the sustainability of the drainage and irrigation system through the formation of Water Users Association and the devolution of the management of the system to farmers themselves.
Under the current Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) US$16.5M Poor and Rural Community Support Services Programme (PRCSSP) farmers in Regions 2 (Pomeroon/Supenaam) and 3 (West Demerara/Essequibo Islands) are benefiting, Dr. Permaul added.
To further boost the development and expansion of the rice industry the Permanent Secretary said a National Strategic Plan for the industry has been prepared and it is currently under review.
Education and training for rice farmers is to be continued and intensified during this year, and in this regard Chief Executive Officer of the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB), Jagnarine Singh said five training seminars are planned and are aimed at educating farmers on the Rice Factories Act. Also a monitoring unit to deal with non-compliance of the Act will be established because in the past there have been complaints about the weighing and grading of paddy by millers.
Research and extension services are to be intensified in collaboration with the Guyana Rice Producers' Association (RPA), which represents the interests of rice farmers, Jagnarine said.
During this year too Jagnarine said developing high-yielding/blast resistant varieties of rice will be vigorously pursued as the blast disease has significantly affected rice production periodically.