They made it clear that they wanted a meeting with Agriculture, Stock Breeding and Fisheries (LVV) Minister Mike Noersaliem and Ashwin Adhin, chairman of parliament. Last Sunday they met with Minister Noersaliem. At that meeting their representative, Mahindra Bechan, explained that the rice farmers are always the ones who get the short end of the stick. A price of one bale of paddy is currently between SRD 350 and SRD 450. But this price does not cover all of the costs of the farmers. Bechan pointed out that they are not playing a political game but that they are seeking their justice as rice farmers have to cover high costs to cultivate rice. The chairman of the union that represents the rice farmers, Ashwin Jagmohansingh, explained that the union, the VBPN, has calculated that the price of paddy is currently between SRD 700 and SRD 800. However, the rice millers claim that the price is between $9 and $11. The VBPN made it clear that if the government does not intervene, the rice sector will collapse. The rice millers offer a price that is too low and which does not allow the farmers to make a profit. The rice farmers who explained that nearly 18,000 hectares of land has been cultivated hope that Minister Noersaliem and Chairman Adhin will address their problems. Minister Noersaliem assured the rice farmers that he would discuss the issue with the rice millers.