Guyana highlights agricultural transformation, Ibrahim for IICA Director General

The Government of Guyana, through the Ministry of Agriculture and the Office of the President, which formally nominated Muhammad Ibrahim for the post of Director General of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) earlier this year, has highlighted that Guyana, though small in size, has strong cultural and historical ties to the Caribbean and is strategically positioned in northern South America to serve as a link for cooperation in the hemisphere.

The joint press release noted that in recent years, the country has attracted global attention for its rapid economic expansion, which has exceeded 40 per cent annually since 2020. Per capita GDP rose from less than US$6500 in 2019 to over US$18,000 in 2023, and growth is projected to continue this year, opening new opportunities for all sectors of the economy.
While the foundation of growth has been the offshore oil and gas sector, which began production in 2019, the Government emphasised that agriculture is experiencing its own transformation – becoming more productive, diversified, competitive, and resilient.
The release noted that Guyana is playing an increasingly important role in promoting regional policies and actions to accelerate the sustainable development of agriculture within CARICOM.
The statement underscored that this approach has placed Guyana at the forefront of efforts to strengthen the Caribbean’s food basket and ensure food security. It credited this success to increased public and private investment, as well as significant foreign capital inflows.
According to the release, Guyana has allocated eight per cent of its national budget to agriculture in both 2023 and 2024 – a decision taken after the Covid-19 pandemic underscored global vulnerabilities in food supply.
These investments have driven a range of strategic projects aimed at modernising the sector, introducing higher-value crops, strengthening plant and animal health systems, expanding food safety measures, and using technology to boost productivity in traditional farming.
As a result, Guyana achieved a record rice harvest of more than 700,000 tonnes in 2024, established the largest hydroponic farm in the Caribbean, and became the first country in the region to launch crop and livestock insurance to safeguard farmers against disasters. This initiative followed devastating floods in 2020 that destroyed nearly 90 percent of production.
The release further pointed to an international study conducted by the Universities of Göttingen in Germany and Edinburgh in the United Kingdom, which found Guyana to be the only country in the world that is completely self-sufficient in food – a milestone the Government said reinforces Guyana’s global leadership on food security in a time of international uncertainty.
The Government said these achievements have helped shift perceptions of agriculture from a sector for those without formal education to one that is deeply rooted in knowledge, science, and innovation.
In nominating Muhammad Ibrahim, Guyana emphasised that his candidacy is a natural extension of this trajectory. Ibrahim, who is being presented as the candidate of both Guyana and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), brings nearly 40 years of experience in agricultural productivity, resilience, and leadership across the hemisphere.
His career, the statement noted, has promoted the role of science, technology, and innovation in strengthening farmers while building dialogue with Governments, the private sector, and international financing institutions.
“Guyana, staying true to the spirit of the Cooperative Republic, is ready to share this expertise with the entire hemisphere through the leadership of Muhammad Ibrahim,” the statement concluded.
In its press release, the Government said the nomination reflects Guyana’s vision of the Cooperative Republic as a reliable partner, committed to working together with other nations in advancing food security, innovation, and agricultural development across the Americas.