Guyana targets end to onion imports by year end

Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha on Saturday urged farmers at De Hoop, East Coast Demerara (ECD), Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) to move into onion cultivation as part of the Government’s push towards integrated farming, while signalling that Guyana could end onion imports by the close of this year. Addressing farmers during an outreach meeting, Mustapha said the Agriculture Ministry is prepared to work with interested farmers from the initial preparation of lands straight through to harvesting. “If you can set aside an acre here, we can start that immediately, and we can go into onion production,” the Minister told farmers.
He explained that the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) would conduct soil testing and provide technical guidance to farmers willing to venture into onion cultivation. “I will have NAREI test the soil, and we can help you all to start that immediately,” he said while encouraging farmers to take up what he described as a challenge to diversify their operations. According to the Minister, the Ministry will assist farmers with seeds, land preparation and technical support throughout the production process. He noted that onions can be harvested in roughly 90 days, with another few weeks needed for drying and preparation before being sold. Mustapha pointed to the success of a pilot onion cultivation project in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) as evidence that the crop can be commercially viable in Guyana. He said onions produced through that initiative are already being sold in major supermarkets across the country.
“If you go around the major supermarkets now in Georgetown, you’ll see a lot of those onions that we produce in Region Nine are in the supermarket,” he stated.
The Minister disclosed that approximately 35 farmers in the Region Nine project have already moved into onion cultivation, while another project there is expected to see hundreds of acres being cultivated. He said the Government ultimately wants Guyana to produce enough onions locally to eliminate the need for imports. “I am hoping by the end of this year, we will stop import onion into Guyana,” Mustapha said. The onion proposal formed part of a wider appeal by the Agriculture Minister for farmers, particularly rice farmers, to adopt integrated farming systems instead of relying solely on rice cultivation. He encouraged farmers to dedicate one or two acres to alternative crops and agricultural activities, including coconuts, aquaculture, livestock and other high-value crops. “We can help you to build a shade house. We can help you to do the high-value crop. We can help you to do the aquaculture,” he said. Mustapha noted that fluctuations in global rice prices continue to affect local farmers and stressed the need to reduce dependence on a single crop. “That is why we have to work, and we have been working with you, to try as much as possible to reduce the cost of production,” he said.
As part of the diversification push, the Minister also announced that the Ministry will assist farmers with planting materials, including coconuts and other crops, while also promoting the use of liquid nano fertiliser. He said Government has expanded its tissue culture programme and is now producing disease-resistant and pest-resistant planting materials aimed at reducing chemical use. Mustapha added that demand for high-value crops continues to increase, particularly from the hospitality and oil-and-gas sectors. He identified crops such as broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, lettuce and bell peppers as products with growing local demand. According to Mustapha, Guyana imported approximately $2.6 billion in high-value crops in 2022, but that figure has already started declining as more local farmers and young people enter the sector. He urged farmers to embrace new opportunities and move away from traditional farming approaches. “We have to change our mindset, not only rice alone,” Mustapha told the gathering. He maintained that agriculture remains one of Guyana’s most important sectors and said Government will continue increasing investment in the industry as part of its broader food security agenda.