Guyana Begins Rice Export To Venezuela

GEORGETOWN, Guyana CMC – Guyana says it expects to make its first shipment of rice this year to Venezuela on Tuesday.

Agriculture Minister Dr. Leslie Ramsammy said the shipment of 6,000 tons of paddy will be followed another shipment two days later. This year’s initial rice shipments were delayed due to the civil unrest in Venezuela.

He said Georgetown expects to ship an estimated 100,000 tons of rice and paddy to the Spanish-speaking neighbouring country by the end of April.

Guyana expects to be making two shipments a week to Caracas until November this year as part of the 200,000 tons agreement.

The rice pact was initiated in 2010 between former president Bharrat Jagdeo and the late Venezuelan leader Hugo Chávez. The agreement aims to strengthen food security in both countries.

In 2011, Guyana signed a US$54 million agreement with Venezuela to supply 50,000 metric tons of paddy at US$520 per metric ton, and 20,000 metric tons of white rice at US$800 per metric ton.

Last year the country exported US$130 million worth of rice to Venezuela.