Guyana’s rice production expected to increase to 710,000 MT in 2024

With significant investments and sustained policy management in the agriculture sector, Guyana’s rice sector is moving apace, and production is expected to increase to 710,000 metric tonnes in 2024.
This has been underscored by Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha during his budget debate presentation on Wednesday in the National Assembly.
“And this year, again we set a target of 710,000 tonnes, to increase production from 653,000 tons. That is the progress I am talking about. We brought out a new variety, which is called the zinc-enriched, biofortified rice. Today those varieties are being given to farmers. That variety will attract preferential prices around the world. That is the kind of thing we are doing,” Mustapha declared.
He said the rice sector has recorded an increase of 7 per cent in 2023 with a production of 653,706 metric tonnes, signifying increased production of 43,111 metric tonnes over the 2022 production of 610,595 metric tonnes; and Guyana earned approximately $45.2 billion in rice exports in 2023, in excess of $3 billion more than it earned in 2022.
Mustapha explained that the PPP/C Government would continue to implement various measures to bring immense relief to farmers; unlike what had obtained with the previous Government, who had increased land rental and drainage and irrigation (D&I) charges on farmers.

In contrast to the previous Government, who had raised land rental and drainage and irrigation (D&I) fees on farmers, Minister Mustapha clarified, the PPP/C Government would continue to undertake numerous measures to provide significant assistance to the farmers.
“The Panama payment is still outstanding! US$7 million! You left the farmers in debt, that is the legacy of the APNU/AFC! But I want to tell you that this PPP/C Government will recoup that money for the farmers in our country. Do you remember the pressure you put on the farmers, especially in Region Five, for D&I and land rental charges from $3,500 to $15,000? When we took a motion to the Parliament, you used your one-seat majority to defeat the motion!” Minister Mustapha informed the House.
As promised, when the Government assumed office in 2020, the D&I charges were reversed to their original rates, resulting in almost $1.3 billion being immediately placed into the hands of farmers in Region Five.
Mustapha said farmers have also benefited from the distribution of seed paddy and availability of more farmlands to increase yields; and several facilities have been built and upgraded to aid in the nation’s rice production. This year, $1.3 billion is budgeted for expenditure by the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) to support increased production and productivity of the rice industry.
And, he said, with $97.6 billion budgeted in 2024 to further stimulate the agriculture sector, the Government is unwavering in its commitment to its transformation, diversification, and expansion.