The Government of Guyana is investing approximately $1.6 billion in the construction of a state-of-the-art paddy drying and storage facility at Onderneeming, Region Two, as part of its continued efforts to modernise the rice industry, strengthen post-harvest management and improve the livelihoods of rice farmers along the Essequibo Coast.
On Friday, Agriculture Minister, Hon. Zulfikar Mustapha, M.P., officially turned the sod for the construction of the facility, which, when completed, will provide much-needed drying and storage capacity for approximately 1,400 to 1,500 rice farmers in the region.
The project, which is expected to be completed within one year, will see the establishment of a fully automated facility equipped with modern drying and storage technology sourced from Turkey and manufactured to European standards.
Delivering the feature address, Minister Mustapha said the investment represents another major step in the government’s ongoing efforts to transform Guyana’s rice industry by addressing longstanding infrastructural challenges and ensuring farmers have access to the facilities necessary to safeguard their production.
“Today we are turning the sod for what will become one of the most important investments in the future of rice production on the Essequibo Coast. This $1.6 billion state-of-the-art drying and storage facility at Onderneeming will support our rice farmers by protecting livelihoods and ensuring their hard work is never lost to inadequate infrastructure,” Minister Mustapha stated.
He explained that the facility will significantly improve the region’s capacity to manage harvested paddy, particularly during peak harvesting periods when inadequate drying and storage infrastructure can result in delays, deterioration in grain quality and financial losses for farmers.
“When completed, the facility will include three modern silos with a total storage capacity of 10,000 metric tonnes. Over 1,500 rice farmers will benefit directly from this investment. This is another demonstration of our government’s commitment to ensuring that our farmers have access to the infrastructure and support systems needed to sustain and expand production,” the Minister said.
Minister Mustapha noted that while significant emphasis continues to be placed on increasing rice production and productivity, equal attention must be given to developing the infrastructure required to efficiently process, store and market the increased volumes being produced.
He said the construction of the Onderneeming facility will complement other investments being made to improve drainage and irrigation systems, farm access and the overall operating environment for rice farmers.
Meanwhile, Chairman of the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA), Mr. Lionel Wordsworth, disclosed that approximately 10 acres of land are currently being developed to accommodate the facility and provide adequate space for future expansion.
He explained that although the entire acreage will not be utilised during the initial phase of construction, the additional land has been incorporated into the project’s development plan to facilitate future increases in capacity as the demands of the rice industry continue to grow.
“We are currently developing approximately 10 acres of land for this facility. While all of the acreage will not be utilised immediately, we have made provisions for future expansion. We want to ensure that as production increases and the need for additional drying and storage capacity arises, the necessary space is already available to accommodate that development,” Mr. Wordsworth explained.
The contract for the construction of the facility was awarded to 4N Hardware Stores Inc. The facility will feature three modern storage silos with a combined capacity of 10,000 metric tonnes, along with two tower dryers equipped with tempering systems capable of drying approximately 900 to 1,000 tonnes of paddy daily.
It will also include four wet bins, each with a holding capacity of 200 tonnes, providing a combined temporary storage capacity of 800 tonnes for freshly harvested paddy awaiting drying.
Additionally, a modern intake system comprising conveyors, elevators and cleaning equipment will be installed, with the capacity to receive and process approximately 150 tonnes of paddy per hour. A single-truck intake hopper will also facilitate the efficient receiving of paddy before it enters the cleaning and drying systems.
Friday’s sod-turning ceremony was also attended by Minister within the Ministry of Agriculture, Hon. Vikash Ramkissoon, M.P.; Regional Chairman of Region Two, Mr. Devin Mohan; General Manager of the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB), Mr. Badrie Persaud; representatives of the contracting company; rice farmers and other stakeholders.
