Berbice Expo & Trade Fair focuses on sustainable agriculture and innovation

The Berbice annual expo and trade fair had officially opened last week and will conclude today. It is themed, “Innovation in Oil, Gas & Agriculture for a sustainable future.”
Speaking at the event, Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha pointed out that the private sector stands as the engine of growth for Guyana while noting that the Government has the responsibility of driving innovation, fostering entrepreneurship, and creating employment opportunities, that uplift communities across the country.
He said by working closely with the Government, the private sector can channel investments into areas that spur economic growth and alleviate poverty, ensuring that the benefits of the country’s natural resources are shared by all.

Mustapha pointed out that the Government has been working with the private sector to boost agriculture production. He spoke about the cultivation of corn and soya to produce local animal feed and increase the production of hatching eggs.
“And with these few commodities corn, soya, beans, and hatching eggs we will be saving approximately US $80 million annually in the country.”
In 2023, Guyana started the production of hatching eggs and 27,000 were produced.
“We continued with that this year and for the first half of 2024, we produced 94,000 hatching eggs and I am optimistic that by the end of this year that would increase substantially. But that is a small amount compared to what we are importing. We are importing approximately 53 million hatching eggs annually into our country,” Mustapha noted.

He said by the end of 2026, Guyana should be producing all of the beans that are currently being imported to Guyana.
“A Berbician is a part of that project. As I am speaking work is ongoing at Kimbia where we are building the roads. The silos have already been awarded to a contractor. We have an investor there to ensure that we will meet all our needs by the end of 2026.”
Today we are seeing major trade teams from across the globe visiting Guyana looking for investment opportunities. Some of the large-scale investment has already started including the establishment of the largest hydroponics farm in the Caribbean; we have it right at Mon Repo on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD) – 100,000 plantlets as I am speaking work is ongoing in Regions Two, Five and 10 to construct three of those similar projects.”
Mustapha also noted the livestock breeding programme as being another key investment in the Agriculture Ministry by the Government to increase meat and dairy production.
Mustapha in referring to the Chamber of Commerce as a key representative of the business community, said it is hoped that the chamber will continue to advocate for the policies that support the Government’s vision.
He said the Government will promote sustainable business practices, encourage investments in green technologies, and provide platforms such as the Berbice Expo for businesses to showcase their innovation.
Meanwhile, President of the Central Corentyne Chamber of Commerce Poonai Bhigroog said the theme chosen this year resonates deeply with the current dynamics of Guyana’s economy and its collective aspirations for a wealthy and sustainable future.
This is the eighteenth year the Expo is being held. According to the Chamber’s President, proceeds from the annual event go towards projects in the community.
Among them is the construction of a fire station at Rose Hall Town, and assistance with the renovation of the Felix Austin Police Training Complex. The Chamber also pumped over $20 million into the improvements to both the Albion Sports Complex and Rose Hall Canje Welfare Ground where the Expo is currently being held.
“We have also donated items and food supplies in hurricane relief to St Vincent and the Grenadines. We donated last year over $500,000 to the Special Needs School in New Amsterdam to have AC units installed at that learning institution. If I keep listing the numerous projects the CCCC has undertaken over the years, this will take too long,” the chamber president said.
Speaking of the agriculture sector, Bhigrooh said modernising it will not only ensure, that we become self-sufficient in food but will reduce our food import bills.
“The global challenges of food security and fluctuating prices make it critical for Guyana to strengthen its agricultural bases. The newfound wealth from oil and gas can be redirected into the agricultural sector, to upscale farming with modern technologies, like precision farming, enhanced irrigation systems, and improved seeds and fertilisers. There is a need to provide farmers with access to credit, training and technology, so we can increase our productivity and make Guyana a leading agricultural nation in this region and realising our President’s vision to reduce our regional import bills. This will also help our farmers to secure better markets for their produce and more competitive prices,” the Chamber President added. (G4)