AIEP success highlights glaring gaps in former governance, silence from emerging parties

Dear Editor,
As Guyana continues its forward march towards agricultural modernisation and youth empowerment, the Agriculture and Innovation Entrepreneurship Programme (AIEP) stands as a beacon of progress, a glaring contrast to the stagnation that characterised the previous administration. Launched in 2022, this flagship initiative has already achieved milestones that underscore not only its efficacy but also the former government’s failure to invest in sustainable, youth-driven agricultural development.
The agriculture sector in Guyana suffered from chronic neglect, with outdated practices, insufficient innovation, and a glaring absence of structured opportunities for youth engagement under APNU. The former administration paid lip service to youth development but offered no tangible pathway for them to become stakeholders in the country’s most essential sector. While young people faced high unemployment and limited prospects, agriculture remained an untapped reservoir of potential until the AIEP changed the game.
Since its inception, the AIEP has delivered measurable results with 52 shade houses built across the country, a diverse array of high-value crops such as carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, and lettuce being cultivated, and over G$32 million in revenue generated. This isn’t just growth; it’s transformation. The programme proves that when the right vision meets action, youth can be empowered, and agriculture can be a profitable, tech-driven industry. President Irfaan Ali and the agriculture minister are visionaries in this regard.
One of the most innovative components of the initiative is the AIEP Hydroponics Project. Set to benefit 100 young people across regions 2, 5, and 10, the project equips them with cutting-edge skills in hydroponic farming, processing, and marketing. In contrast, the previous government offered little more than rhetoric on modernisation, with no substantive programmes to support young agri-entrepreneurs or incorporate modern science into traditional practices.
Even more telling is the Phase III expansion, targeting Regions Three, Four, Five, Six, and 10. This phase focuses on seedling production and provides quality planting materials and essential training. Such strategic planning and regional inclusion were virtually non-existent in past governance.
The contrast is clear: today’s initiatives are not just symbolic; they are systemic, practical, and geared toward long-term sustainability.
Equally concerning is the silence from new and upcoming political parties on this front. While some continue to champion vague promises of innovation and youth support, none have presented a vision as detailed, data-driven, and demonstrably impactful as the AIEP. With national elections on the horizon, Guyanese voters, especially young people, must ask: where is the alternative vision for agriculture? Where are the programmes that match or exceed the standards set by the AIEP?
In the end, the success of the AIEP is not just a win for agriculture; it’s a test. It has exposed the past governmental failures, challenged the credibility of their aspiring leaders, and set a new benchmark for what effective, youth-focused policy should look like. The message is clear: the future belongs to those who plan for it and deliver.

Sincerely,
Beverly Lynch