Rice exports to Cuba double by first crop 2018 -from 15,512 tonnes to 37,418 tonnes
DPI, GUYANA, Sunday, May 13, 2018
For the period of January – April 2018 Guyana has exported 139,501 metric tonnes of paddy, rice, and rice by-products, equivalent to US $57.7Million. This surpasses 2017’s export of 120,811 metric tonnes equivalent to US $47M.
This has been credited to new markets in Mexico and Cuba.
General Manager of GRDB, Nizam Hassan.
General Manager of the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) Nizam Hassan noted that Guyana had not exported to the Cuban market for a number of years. However, the amount now being exported has increased by more than one hundred percent.
He explained, “In 2017 we exported 15,512 tonnes, which was supplied from just one miller-exporter. Thus far we have two millers that have been given contracts to export to Cuba. So far for this year, we have exported 37,418 tonnes valued at $18.9 Million US and we still have more to send. We definitely have already more than 100 percent over the 2017 figures.”
He further credited the new markets for the increase in exports and production. Hassan added that with the projected increase of consumption, there has been increased production activity.
“These two markets have helped the exports to grow as well as to stimulate interest that has encouraged the farmers to return to cultivation. The FAO has reported that the global consumption of rice is projected to increase in 2018, and with that, we’re seeing some amount of increased activity on the production level also the interest by the millers. And this is of course followed by the export of paddy, rice and it’ by-products.” Hassan further said
The GRDB board has heightened efforts to further garner more markets for farmers, millers, and the stakeholders involved the industry by introducing a new rice variety. ‘GRDB 15’ can give as much as 20 percent more than the current high yielding variety ‘GRDB 10’ which means more bags per acre. After seven years of research, the GRDB officially unveiled the ‘GRDB 15’ in April this year.
By: Stephon Gabriel