– Millers have two weeks to pay 50% to farmersNew legislation aimed at protecting rice farmers will now force millers to pay for paddy within 42 days of being supplied as stipulated by the Rice Factories Amendment Bill.The Bill,Cheap China Jerseys, No. 35 of 2009, was assented to by President Bharrat Jagdeo on December 22,Cheap NFL Jerseys China, last, after being tabled in the National Assembly on October 15 and passed on October 22, 2009, after three readings.Millers have a period of two weeks to pay 50 percent of total sale to individual farmers as opposed to just 50 percent of total paddy sale.They are also granted an additional 42 days to pay the remainder; failing which they face the possibility of having their licence revoked.The Bill amends the Rice Factories Act 1998 with Clause two seeking to ensure that millers owe no farmer over five percent of the paddy supplied unless approved by the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB).Clause Three amends the schedule of the Principal Act by providing a specific timeframe within which to pay the farmer for the paddy sold.Minister of Agriculture, Robert Persaud,Wholesale Authentic NFL Jerseys, said Government has a moral obligation to institute legislative provisions to protect its vulnerable population.He added that in the rice industry, farmers are more vulnerable than millers, as they face greater risks due to uncertain weather patterns, pests, diseases and other related difficulties.Minister Persaud explained that the amendment is not intended to impede the free market system but rather to support the arrangement while implementing the necessary regulations to protect key players in the industry.The Minister noted that the amendment is very timely since the industry has been making tremendous strides.“Our industry has successfully risen from the ashes of neglect,NFL Jerseys Supply, mismanagement and hopelessness,” he said.Production in the industry was approximately 90,000 tons years ago; export 28,000 tons and earnings were US$26M per annum.The Minister disclosed that for 2009, rice yielded the highest production in history with about 5.2 tons per hectares,Cheap Jerseys From China, while export earnings competed with that of sugar.Two new varieties of rice were also introduced in 2009 addressing the issue of quality and low production yield.The rice sector has also introduced state-of-the-art grading and packaging facilities with rice exported to Europe, North America and the Caribbean.The Minister added that this amendment will gear the industry with a needed tool to address current as well as future challenges.The amendment was supported by General Secretary of the Rice Producers’ Association (RPA), Dharamkumar Seeraj, who said that the amendment is government’s response to ensure farmers are given a fair deal.He added that the amendment was drafted and taken to the National Assembly after widespread consultations with both the farming and milling communities.