Shelly-Ann Thompson, Staff Reporter

Tufton

A report on the viability of the resumption of rice cultivation in the island is currently being examined by the Ministry of Agriculture.

The report, which comprises recommendations made by Guyanese rice players and the ministry's assessment of former rice lands, was presented to Agriculture Minister, Dr Christopher Tufton earlier this week.

"I have the report and I will be going through it today," said Tufton yesterday.

"The report will decide how we proceed," he added.

Early rice production

Up to the mid-1980s, about 2,000 acres of rice were cultivated throughout the island in parishes such as Westmoreland, St Catherine, Clarendon and St Elizabeth.

Since announcing last month that the Jamaican Government hopes to restart rice cultivation, Tufton said several local and international investors have expressed an interest in the area.

Not wanting to disclose to whom and how much is being offered for the cultivation of the paddy, Tufton said interested parties include Chinese investors and a local private company.

"I don't want to say too much as details have to be finalised," he said.

Land in Guyana

Packages of rice displayed on the shelves of a local supermarket. - FILE

Tufton is scheduled to discuss the cultivation of rice locally and within Guyana, which has offered Jamaica lands in its country to grow the staple. The discussion with the Guyanese will take place when Tufton chairs a meeting of the regional ministers of agriculture on May 20 in the Caribbean nation.

Additionally, Jamaica Broilers, which has offered an initial investment of $5 million for the cultivation of rice in the island, continues to have talks with the ministry.

Guyana is one of the Caribbean Community's two rice producers - the other being Suriname - and normally supplies about half the estimated 100,000 tonnes of rice consumed here annually.

shelly-ann.thompson@gleaner jm.com