Rice producer Gabriel Araúz, referring to the end of the price control program for this item, said that this $800 million subsidy was given so that rice would be at 0.40 cents per pound. He said that the compensation, of $7.50, to the producer was given to cover production prices and profits.
He said that no subsidy has been given to the producer, but to the consumer. The supply of first-class rice has been decreasing since 2017. “We leave the rice, dirty, wet and in husk, at the mill.” He pointed out that the mill should be responsible for cleaning, drying and milling.
The mill carries out the post-harvest and determines the quality of the rice by separating the whole rice from the broken rice. Araúz pointed out that the mill separates the whole rice from the broken rice; for the special rice, 95% of whole grains and 5% of broken grades are used, for the first-class rice, 70% of whole rice and 30% broken are selected, he said.
Rice farmer Araúz said that lifting price controls on rice will lead to an increase in prices for consumers.
