Technical and managerial assistance recommendations : rice modernization project, Guyana

Selected for early attention was the rice industry -- farm to market. Feasibility studies confirmed the opportunity for successful development in the rice industry. As a result of those findings, the Government of Guyana and USAID negotiated AID Loan in an amount of U.S.$12,900,000 to be supplemented by the GOG in an amount of Guyana dollars equivalent to U.S. $4,600,000. A component of that loan agreement was U.S. $550,000 supplemented by Guyana dollars furnished by the GOG in an amount equal to U.S. $144,000 for technical and managerial assistance. The principle infrastructure to be added by implementation of the loan agreement is a Rice Research Center, six Dryer-Storage Centers, and transportation equipment for bulk paddy and milled rice. The rice research center construction has been started. It is currently scheduled to be completed in December 1974. The six Dryer-Storage Centers, having a capacity to handle and store about 25% of the projected annual crop, and 50% of the projected crop in their areas are under construction. Two are expected to be completed for beneficial occupancy in time for the fall crop 1973; two others may be completed by that time. All six should be beneficially occupied by the fall crop 1974, or before.