PARAMARIBO – Angry rice farmers recently expressed their shock in response to the numbers that Agriculture Minister Prahlad Sewdien presented to the media. Minister Sewdien explained that the team from the Office of the President went into the field after having received a report from the rice farmers. According to the minister, District Commissioner (DC) Senrita Gobardhan reported to the president that about 28,000 hectare had been cultivated by rice farmers.

The farmers explained that they mainly work with small agrarians and that the numbers of the DC do not add up. They made it clear that the government must only give compensation for 19,878 hectares of land and definitely not 28,000 hectares. Ashwin Jagmohansingh, spokesman of the rice farmers in the Nickerie District, on Wednesday made it clear that the farmers would wait two more days for a response. Four weeks ago the rice farmers asked the administration of President Chandrikapersad Santokhi for compensation but they still have not received any money. “The farmers have already done their homework,” said Jagmohansingh who added that the farmers would intensify their campaign, if they do not receive a response. The head of state had announced that the government has put aside SRD 70 million for the rice farmers…[+]