Farmers want excess oil $$ to subsidise rice price

The National Food Crop Farmers’ Association is recommending that the Government use excess revenue generated from the high prices in the energy sector to subsidise rice on the domestic market. The Association made this appeal in a release asking Government to directly intervene in the rising cost of rice.

Association Education and Research Officer, Norris Deonarine, said the rising price of food on the local market is a sign of what is to come if the local agricultural sector is not given priority in the near future. “The preservation of fertile agricultural lands, the granting of standard agricultural leases, access by farmers to funding for development, and food management and infrastructural improvements must all be aspects of any plan to develop agriculture.”

Deonarine warned that if these issues are not addressed in the near future, food prices would rise to a point where more and more people are forced to live below the poverty line. He said agricultural policy must be articulated in such a way that derives maximum utility not only for farmers, but for the entire community. Deonarine said it is the duty of a responsible government to ensure that the nation’s “food basket” is protected and managed in such a way that would sustain society, taking into account any unforeseen events on the world stage.