Agriculture Ministry tackles cassava surplus in Region 9

Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha has announced that the Ministry of Agriculture is addressing the overproduction of cassava in Region 9 by exploring strategies to market the surplus. The aim is to create sustainable income streams for farmers in the region.
This initiative was highlighted during the recent National Toshaos Council (NTC) Conference. The announcement followed reports from the Toshao of White Water to Minister Mustapha regarding the cassava surplus.
“Cassava has been the main staple in hinterland communities. In Region 9, we have been working with the regional administration and the Ministry of Local Government. We will also work with other regions in the future to set up facilities. Just last night, I had a conversation with the Toshao from White Water, and he told me that farmers there have a lot of cassava and don’t know what to do with it,” the Minister said.
According to Minister Mustapha, the ministry is exploring whether communities in Region 9 can use the excess cassava to produce cassareep and cassava bread, which the government would then purchase.
“I’ve been working to see how we can market the cassava. I told the Toshao, ‘Look, if the community can make cassareep, we will look into purchasing it, as well as the cassava bread, so that the community can benefit from a market.’ That is what we will be doing. We want to ensure that hinterland communities move beyond small-scale, subsistence farming. We can produce for our own use, yes—but also for broader markets.”
Minister Mustapha further emphasized the importance of supporting large-scale agricultural ventures for economic development.
“If we want to engage in large-scale marketing, I will ensure that our technical officers work with your community. We can focus on one or two major crops. The Ministry of Agriculture will help you develop those crops so that your community can benefit from an economic project in agriculture. We will help you nurture it, grow it, and—most importantly—find markets for the produce,” he stated.
In recent times, Guyana has also faced challenges related to a rice surplus. To address this issue, the government has launched several initiatives to stabilize the sector.
In February 2025, Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo assured rice farmers that the administration is actively working on interventions to mitigate the effects of low paddy prices and the oversupply of rice.
He noted that the government is engaging with millers to develop strategies to improve the situation. Additionally, securing new markets for rice exports remains a priority, as production levels continue to rise.