Guyana’s agri output on track to grow by over 30% by 2030 – Pres Ali

…says country making strides toward becoming regional exporter of high-value crop

With the increase in agricultural production as a result of ramped up investments from the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) government, it is projected that Guyana’s agricultural output will grow by over 30 per cent by 2030.
October has been designated Agriculture month 2024, with the world recently observing World Food Day. In a recent missive, President Dr. Irfaan Ali had outlined the progress being made in Guyana, which has been leading the charge towards the Caribbean region achieving 25 per cent reduction in food imports by 2025.

“Guyana aims to achieve self-sufficiency and become a regional exporter of key agricultural products, including poultry, animal feed (corn, soya), black eye peas, high value crops, honey, coffee, cocoa and hatching eggs. To this end, agricultural output in 2030 is projected to increase by over 30 per cent by the end of the decade,” President Ali said.
According to President Ali, achieving this ambitious goal will be based on investments in research and development, as well as the strong partnerships the government is building with the private sector. He also referenced the government’s partnerships with the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), with the aim of upgrading the Guyana School of Agriculture.
“Over the past four years, the government of Guyana has invested over $234.5 Billion to build a resilient and sustainable food ecosystem. These efforts have led to a significant reduction in undernourishment which now stands at 2.5 per cent, well below regional and global averages.”
“This progress reflects the success of our targeted interventions and forward-looking policies aimed at enhancing food production and improving access to healthy foods. Our vision for the future is clear,” the Head of State added.
For the past four years since the PPP/C’s return to government, Guyana has shown exponential growth in its agriculture sector, with increased yields in its main crops such as rice and sugar, and even in its poultry production.
Most recently it was revealed that this year the country has seen an increase in fruit and vegetable production when compared to previous years. Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha had revealed that there has been a sizeable increase in vegetables produced.
In 2022, production totalled 330,449 tonnes compared to 340,643 in 2023 and from January to June 2024 182,238 tonnes were produced. Mustapha, who also chairs the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Ministerial Task Force on the 25 per cent by 2025 food security initiative, had also revealed that fruit production has increased from 197,877 tonnes in 2022 to 205,658 last year and for the first half of 2024, 104,899 tonnes were grown.
Meanwhile the government has been exploring new rice varieties and export markets, in a move that aligns with the government’s commitment to advancing the agricultural sector and ensuring sustainable development. In 2023, the rice sector recorded an increase of seven per cent with a production of 653,706 metric tonnes.
This signified an increase of 43,111 metric tonnes in 2023 as compared to 610,595 in 2022. Guyana earned approximately $45.2 billion in exports in 2023, over $3 billion more than in 2022.
This year, a target of 710,000 tonnes of rice has been set in the agriculture sector, with the half year target for rice production already being surpassed. A sum of $1.3 billion was budgeted to be expended by the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) to support increased production and productivity of the rice industry.
And the recent resolution of the longstanding Panama rice deal that saw millers finally receiving $1.5 Billion that they were owed by the Panama government, is likely to boost production and morale alike in the industry.
Meanwhile, in the 2024 Mid-Year report, it had been reported that the agriculture, forestry, and fishing sectors were estimated to have expanded by 7.6 per cent in the first half of last year. This was driven by growth in all subsectors – namely other crops, rice growing, livestock, fishing, forestry, and sugar. (G3)