Guyana is seeking to gain a foothold on the Colombian rice market which is expected to have a large shortfall in supply this year, a leading official in the rice industry has said.

Speaking with the Guyana Chronicle, General Manager of the Guyana Rice Board Jagnarine Singh said based on information received through outreaches, there would be a shortage of 100,000 tonnes on the Colombian market and Guyana will be pushing for a share in making up this shortfall.

Singh, who will be attending the 31st annual congress of Colombian rice millers, opening today, as head of Guyana’s delegation, will be using the opportunity to explore the possibilities of Guyana shipping rice to its fellow South American nation.

Singh will be accompanied to the congress by Pedro Costello of the Burma Rice Complex and Carlos Carbo, a rice trader.