PARAMARIBO – The Belangengroep Padieboeren Nickerie reportedly want permission from president Chandrikapersad Santokhi so that rice farmers could transport their paddy to neighbouring Guyana. A bag of paddy currently costs SRD 857 in Guyana. The agrarian sector is currently blooming in Guyana.

Fertilizer is cheap and the farmers receive state subsidy for tractors, spare parts and chemicals. The farmers only receive SRD 425 for a bag of paddy in Suriname which is why they can’t cover all of the production costs. They explained that they should be paid at least SRD 677.50 for a bag of paddy.

Ashwin Jagmohansingh, the spokesman of the Belangengroep Padieboeren Nickerie, explained that the exporters from Suriname and Guyana export rice to the same countries. The same boat that picks up rice in Suriname also goes to Guyana to pick up rice for the export. This means that the exporters in Suriname make huge profits because they pay a very low price for paddy.  When the farmers get permission they could sell their paddy in Guyana for a better price and make a profit…[+]