Agriculture pushing growth rate in non-oil economy – Mustapha

Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha on Tuesday made a case for the $113.2 billion allocated to his Ministry as he highlighted how agriculture continues to be a major driver of Guyana’s non-oil economic expansion, under the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government. Mustapha advanced the Government’s position as he delivered remarks during the second day of the Budget Debates in the National Assembly, arguing that agriculture remains central to economic diversification and rural development. In 2025, Guyana recorded overall economic growth of 19.3 per cent, while non-oil growth stood at 14.3 per cent. The agriculture, forestry and fishing sector grew by 11.5 per cent during the same period. “If agriculture was not doing anything, why is agriculture pushing the growth rate of the country in the non-oil economy, moving the economy forward. We have moved growth in the agriculture sector to 11.5 per cent in 2025. The non-oil economy grew by 14 per cent and that was led by the agriculture sector with 11.5 per cent,” Mustapha said. As the Government looks to continue growing the sector, the Minister zoned in on a series of initiatives to be pursued under the 2026 budget, including the development of new crops and expanded production across several regions. “We will see acres of new area being developed for dragon fruit, 10 acres of onion being developed in Lethem. We will see corn and soya increase production. We will see spices in Region One increased by over 500 acres,” Mustapha said. The fisheries sector has been allocated $2.3 billion, which Mustapha said will support the upgrading of landing sites, construction of a feed mill, expansion of cage culture and the installation of additional vessel tracking devices. He also announced plans to launch a digital seafood platform through the Ministry of Agriculture. “We started the cage culture in the hinterland locations. We already put down more than 48 cages that are now supplementing the village economy,” Mustapha said. “This year we will put another 40 cages in different parts of the country. These are new developments that are taking place.”

Traditional Industries
Significant funding has also been directed to traditional industries, the Minster said, pointing to a total of $14.4 billion has been allocated to the sugar industry, which the Minister said reflects the Government’s commitment to supporting workers. The livestock sector will receive $1.9 billion, with plans for panel pens targeting young people, expansion of abattoir capacity to handle about 100 animals per day, increased honey production, and new agro-processing facilities in Parika and Lethem. Projects for black-eyed peas and red beans are also expected to come on stream. “This $113.2 billion is a contract with the people of the country,” Mustapha told the House. “It’s a contract that says that your food will be affordable, your farms will be irrigated and drained in time, and your children can have a career in the most noble of all industries.” Addressing criticisms from the opposition benches, particularly A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Member of Parliament Vinceroy Jordan, Mustapha defended the Government’s record in agriculture and linked the opposition’s losses at the 2025 General and Regional Elections to what he described as a failure of leadership. APNU’s parliamentary representation fell from 31 seats in the 12th Parliament to 12 seats in the current 13th Parliament. “The APNU loss of more than half of their seats reflects a failure in their leadership, from 31 seats to 12,” Mustapha said. “They lost 19 seats because of their attitude. It is no surprise that the electorate has turned away from them. We increase our seats from 33 to 36 because of what we have been doing in this country. We have been uplifting people. We have been improving people‘s lives, improving Infrastructure, bringing benefits to the people of the country. That is the record of the PPP/C Government.” On fisheries, Mustapha rejected claims that the sector’s budget was reduced, explaining that while $1.5 billion is listed in the estimates, an additional $800 million will be provided, bringing the total to $2.3 billion. “We have increased the budgetary allocation in the fisheries section by $600 million more this year,” he said. Highlighting progress in the rice industry, Mustapha said production increased from about 50,000 tonnes in 2020 to 810,000 tonnes in 2025. He credited Government interventions such as improved seed paddy, farmer subsidies, reduced drainage and irrigation charges and expanded access to land. He also noted that Guyana is the first country in the Caribbean to implement crop insurance for rice farmers. The Minister also highlighted youth involvement in his presentation. He said Government policy requires that every programme under the Ministry of Agriculture include at least 35 per cent youth participation. Through the Agriculture Innovation and Entrepreneurship Programme, more than 300 young people are shareholders in an agricultural company, benefiting from shade houses, hydroponics farms and poultry production. Mustapha also shared testimonials from beneficiaries of Government programmes, including a honey producer from Berbice who rebuilt her operation after floods and wildfires and a sheep farmer whose improved livestock has benefited others in his community. “This budget is a direct affirmation of our Government’s commitment to the hard-working farmers, fisherfolk, agro-processors and rural communities who sustain and nourish our great nation,” Mustapha said, as he urged opposition members to “stand with the farmers, stand with our sugar workers, stand with our fisherfolk, stand with our agro-processors, with the workers of this country.”