Faster action needed to achieve agri 25 by 2025 goal – Caricom manager

…as new high-yield rice variety to be available to farmers – Agri Minister

Caricom’s Programme Manager, Shaun Baugh, believes that more has to be done to see the regional body reducing its food import bill by 25 per cent by the year 2025.
He made the statement at a recent forum hosted by the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRBD) during which its newest rice variety; bio-fortified rice was being introduced to farmers in the Black Bush Polder, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).
In August 2022, Heads of Government of Caricom committed to reducing the Region’s large food import bill by 25 per cent by 2025, which was said to be US$6 billion.
In 2012, Caricom’s food import bill was recorded at US$3 billion while in 2016 it was US$2.9 billion. Between the period of 2018-2020 the food import bill was US$13.76 billion, 2018 food imports valued at US$5.03 billion, 2019 food import valued at US$4.776 billion.
According to Baugh, quicker action is need to achieve 25 by 2025; which is cutting Caricom’s food import bill by 25 per cent by 2025. He said the Region’s young people need to be reintroduced to indigenous foods.
“Most of our young people, I know for my son, he identified with Burger King and McDonalds… where are we going with these initiatives – rice is one of many and how we embrace these opportunities is what is going to make the difference as we go forward.”
He noted that we need to focus on how we can deepen partnerships.
“How can we expand our markets; how can we embrace the new technology as well as make sure that we reintroduce ourselves and our products to our market to cut the import bill… talking about 25 by 25 is all good but along that road there are all sorts of hiccups that will come,” Baugh said.

Renewed interest in agriculture
Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha also speaking at the forum, pointed out that Caricom leaders are committed to 25 by 2025.
He said as the leader, Guyana is doing its part, as the Government has been making huge investments in the sector.
Not only in Guyana but across the Caribbean there has been a different approach to agriculture. For the first time, according to the Agriculture Minister, there is a true commitment as it relates to working together in order to ensure the Region produces and imports less.
“We are seeing a renewed interest in agriculture. We are seeing now a true commitment by Caricom Heads of Government that we have to capacity to reduce the food import bill of Caricom. If Caricom has to be successful in reducing the food import bill by 25 per cent, then Guyana has to be successful. What we have in Guyana I don’t think our brothers and sisters in Caricom have as abundance as we have.”
Mustapha referred to this as an abundance of both fresh water and flat land.
He said Guyana has been expanding cultivation of its traditional crops while at the same time introducing new crops.
“By 2025, we are hoping that Guyana will be self-sufficient in producing all its corn and soya needs right here and at the same time be a net exporter. If we can produce all of the corn and soya needs for Guyana, then the livestock industry will be more robust; the cost of meat will drop because we are importing US$60M annually in corn and soya. We and now doing high-value crops, things like cauliflower, broccoli and carrots. We are also doing more climate-smart agriculture and have more shade houses across the country.
The Agriculture Minister added that on the table is ensuring that crop insurance becomes available to help farmers cushion the impact of disaster.
“Right now, we are discussing that so that farmers can insure their crop so when you have a natural disaster, they can have compensation coming from the insurance company.
Government, he said, is committed to ensuring development in agriculture and increasing production.
“And not only in the rice sector, rice is one of the crops that we are doing now on large scale, but when you look into the agriculture sector you will see different activities taking place simultaneously. We are trying to improve the livestock industry, we are trying to improve aquaculture and make aquaculture an industry in Guyana. In places like Ecuador, their investment in aquaculture is vast and the revenue going to them is tremendous. We have the potential to make Guyana a powerhouse in aquaculture farming.”

Bio-fortified rice
“Very shortly we will make this an official variety so hopefully by the next crop you the farmers can have this variety to cultivate preference prices,” Mustapha said.
Meanwhile, President of the Rice Producers Association Leeka Rambrich noted that in the very near future, two more rice varieties should be available, which should give higher yields and provide farmers with more options.
He noted too that the Government has given farmers permission to bring rice varieties from Brazil to grow here. Two of these varieties are currently being tested locally.
With the national average at 6.1 tonnes per hectare, Rambrich said some farmers in the region are reaping 7 tonnes per hectare.
“I am hoping that our national average can move to 6.5 or 7 tonnes because I know farmers like myself and others are having 8 and 9 tonnes per hectare. We are hoping that we can move it from 6.1 tonnes to reach 10 tonnes per hectare in the not-too-distant future.”
Rambrich, who is both a rice farmer and miller, pointed out that farmers will not grow the bio-fortified rice if millers will not pay a premium price for it.
While increasing food production in the agriculture sector is in line with plans to be sustainable and resilient, the bio-fortified rice variety with nutritionally enhanced Zinc, is anticipated to provide farmers and Guyana with enormous relief.
This significant project forms part of an effective partnership between the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB), the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), Fondo Latinoamericano para Arroz de Riego (FLAR), Caricom, among others. (G4)