Buddy’s Rice Mill heartened by early response Although it has not yet received its licence to operate, the new ly- established Buddy’s Rice Milling Complex has official ly begun buying paddy, re ceiving good responses from Regions Five and Six farm ers. While Guyana Times was told by a top company official that the complex has already received its licence, Guyana Rice Development Board ( GRDB) General Manager Jagnarine Singh had confirmed that this is not so. However, he told this publication during a tel ephone interview that the rice mill’s new management is soon to be issued its li cence to operate as it is be ing processed and the final documents to complete the processing are expected to be submitted today by the miller. The GRDB general man ager said the company has so far satisfied most of the criteria for licensing. Meanwhile, Buddy’s Rice Milling Complex Chief Executive Officer Arnold Gajraj said the company has already bought paddy from about 10- 15 rice farmers who planted early. “ Harvesting is not in full swing as yet until mid next week,” Gajraj said, noting that the company is in the process of cleaning and dry ing the paddy and milling of white rice will begin in the next two to three weeks. The millers are paying farmers $ 4000 per bag of paddy. According to the com pany’s CEO, farmers who provided paddy on Tuesday last are expected to be paid on Wednesday. Gajraj boasted of the company’s fast intake, not ing that it would reduce the hassle of farmers hav ing to line up, thus ensur ing faster grading and pro cessing. He is encouraging farmers to take their paddy to the Buddy’s Rice Milling Complex when the harvest ing season is in full swing. The GRDB general man ager had previously told this publication that while a milling licence is need ed before a company can commence operations, the GRDB would from time to time flex with companies so as to ensure farmers’ paddy are sold. “ We try to work with them to avoid a bottleneck in buying. So we work with investors to reduce the long lines of farmers having to wait for their paddy to be sold,” he outlined. The requirements for a licence include proof of own ership, assurance of quality and sufficient grading equip ment, among other things. The Buddy’s Rice Milling Complex, formerly known as the Mahaicony Rice Mill Limited, was recently bought by popular Guyanese businessman Omprakash “ Buddy” Shivraj. The facili ty, located at Branch Road, Mahaicony, Region Five, was bought in mid- July
Posted on: Fri, 13 Sep 2013 13:53:04 +0000
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