10-15 mango varieties, land earmarked for major DR partnership – Agri Minister

Land has been earmarked by the Agriculture Ministry in partnership with the Dominican Republic for the large-scale cultivation of mangoes and avocados.
The minister made these remarks on the sidelines of a recent event on Monday afternoon.
According to the minister, on April 16, he engaged a high-level delegation from the Presidential Commission for Guyana–Dominican Republic Initiatives to advance discussions on collaborative efforts aimed at strengthening Guyana’s fruit production sector.
The delegation comprised former President of the Dominican Republic, Mr. Hipólito Mejía, Ambassador Tulio Rodríguez, along with two agronomic specialists and other senior officials from the Embassy of the Dominican Republic.
During the meeting, key areas of cooperation were explored under the Mango Cultivation Project. It was disclosed that the Dominican Republic will support the initiative by providing planting material for 15 high-yielding, disease-free mango varieties, with each variety expected to be cultivated on one hectare of land to facilitate the establishment of parent stock.
Additionally, discussions were held on the implementation of an Avocado Cultivation Project, which will see the importation of planting material for approximately 10 high-yielding avocado varieties.
This initiative is aimed at boosting Guyana’s avocado production capacity, while diversifying the country’s fruit crop base and supporting export opportunities.
Both projects are expected to commence in July, following the importation of planting materials in June.
“So we have already earmarked a set of land, and the team that came from Dominica, including the former president who headed that team, visited the land. I myself might visit Dominica shortly. But we have decided that we will do between 10 to 15 varieties of mangoes in Guyana—mangoes that are commercially viable,” the minister stated.
Meanwhile, he highlighted how prosperous the initiative could be.
“Because mango is a very lucrative crop, and there is high demand for mangoes, especially those from the Dominican Republic. So we will be getting the seedlings from Dominica to start the cultivation, and we are hoping that, as we started with aquaculture and prawns, we can also launch a mango industry.”
Only last month Dominican Republic (DR)-based Rizek Cacao, one of the world’s largest producers of organic cocoa, is looking to work with the Guyana Government and local farmers to establish a cocoa industry here.
President Dr Irfaan Ali met with a high-level team from Rizek Cacao, which was led by the ambassador of the DR to Guyana, Ernesto Torres Pereyra.