Agriculture Minister, Hon. Zulfikar Mustapha, has said that the Government’s rice farmer relief initiative is a strategic investment in production and food security, emphasizing that the financial assistance being provided should not be viewed as charity or a political favour.
The Minister made the remarks while addressing rice farmers during the latest round of relief cheque distributions that were held on Wednesday at the Mahaicony Technical Institute, noting that approximately $1.8 billion has already been distributed to rice farmers in Regions Two, Three, and Five under the Government’s nationwide relief initiative.
The distribution programme fulfills a commitment made by His Excellency, President Dr. Irfaan Ali, during a consultation with hundreds of rice farmers at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre in April this year.
Under the programme, farmers cultivating 50 acres or less are receiving $15,000 per acre, while those cultivating more than 50 acres are receiving $10,000 per acre.
Addressing farmers, Minister Mustapha said that despite criticisms, the Government has consistently invested in the agriculture sector over the past six years.
“A lot of times in the sector, we fail to recognize what the Government is doing. Some people join with the naysayers to say that the Government isn’t doing anything for the sector. Over the last six years, a lot of investments have been made in this country,” Minister Mustapha said.
He said the relief initiative is another example of the Government honoring its commitments to farmers while ensuring they have the resources needed to remain productive.
“Today, we are delivering on another commitment to the rice farmers of this country. Many people who are criticizing the cash grants and subsidies that are being given to farmers, I want to inform them that these subsidies are not charity or a political favour. They are an investment in production and food security, so use the money wisely,” he urged.
Minister Mustapha said the Government’s support for the rice industry extends beyond direct financial assistance, pointing to investments in drainage and irrigation infrastructure, mechanization, farm-to-market roads, research, improved seed varieties, and market development.
Highlighting the transformation of the Mahaica-Mahaicony-Abary (MMA) Scheme, he said the progress made over the past six years demonstrates the Government’s commitment to rebuilding the sector.
“In 2020, when we came into office, we inherited many challenges. The MMA Scheme had three dilapidated machines that were inoperable. Today, there is a fleet of functioning machines serving the farmers within the MMA Scheme. That shows you who truly has an interest in agriculture in this country,” he stated.
Minister Mustapha also outlined the Government’s vision for modernizing the rice industry through the adoption of new technologies to improve efficiency and address labour shortages.
“As a government, we want to expand the rice industry. We also want to move away from labor-intensive ways of doing rice farming. We are now negotiating with a company to help small-scale farmers utilize drone technology in the application of fertilizers and other chemicals,” he disclosed.
Similar relief cheque distribution exercises are scheduled to take place in Regions Four and Six in the coming days as the nationwide rollout of the initiative continues.
