Mustapha calls on Caribbean millers to strengthen regional flour security

…as Caribbean advances efforts to cut its food import bill

Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha on Tuesday called on regional millers to take a more active role in strengthening the Caribbean’s food systems as the region continues to confront global economic and supply chain pressures.

He delivered the keynote address at the 28th General Annual Meeting of the Caribbean Miller’s Association, which brought together representatives from 17 flour mills and 21 associate members from across the Caribbean, North America, and other regions. The association’s members play central roles in food manufacturing, trade, and supply across the Caribbean.
This year’s meeting was held under the theme “Navigating Global Shifts: Inflation, Tariffs, and Market Opportunities in a Changing World.”
In his remarks, Minister Mustapha said inflation, climate extremes, disruptions in supply chains, volatile commodity markets, and geopolitical tensions continue to influence the cost and availability of grain and the competitiveness of regional industries. He noted that millers operate at a critical point in the food value chain, where every external shock affects household food prices.
“For the Caribbean, rising tariffs, logistical delays, currency fluctuations, and unpredictable commodity prices directly affect farmers, processors, consumers, and, critically, you, the millers,” Mustapha said. “Every shock upstream becomes a ripple that raises prices at home, often impacting the most vulnerable among us.”
The Minister urged millers to move beyond long-standing dependence on foreign suppliers and instead participate in shaping more resilient regional markets.
“It is time for us to shift from being price-takers in global markets to becoming price-shapers in a more integrated and self-sufficient regional economy,” he said. He added that Guyana continues to lead regional efforts to cut the Caribbean’s food import bill by 25 per cent by 2025 plus five years but stressed that no country can achieve food security on its own.
Mustapha outlined major investments underway in Guyana’s milling sector, including the National Milling Company of Guyana’s (NAMILCO) G$10 billion upgrade. The investment includes a new processing mill, improved port and wharf facilities, and expanded wheat storage capacity. He also highlighted Government–NAMILCO collaboration on developing cassava flour as a strategic alternative to imported wheat.
“Importantly, NAMILCO and the Government are collaborating on the development of cassava flour, a strategic step toward diversifying supply chains, reducing import dependency, and supporting national and regional food security objectives,” Mustapha said.
He noted that research, testing, and production work are ongoing to incorporate cassava starch into the national flour supply, with potential for exports across the Caribbean. He also pointed to emerging opportunities in energy-efficient machinery, grain storage, flour fortification, climate-smart agriculture, and sustainable packaging.
Turning to inflation, Mustapha said global price pressures continue to affect raw materials, shipping, and energy costs. He underscored the importance of efficiency, technology adoption, and improved forecasting within the milling sector and said the Government remains committed to ensuring a stable environment for investment.
He also reiterated Guyana’s position within CARICOM, calling for the removal of outdated trade barriers that restrict regional production and sourcing.
“Through the CARICOM Ministerial Taskforce on Agriculture, we are addressing non-tariff barriers and outdated trade arrangements that limit regional sourcing and investment,” he said. Strengthening regional trade, he added, will allow millers to source more efficiently and reduce exposure to global market shocks.
Mustapha also urged stronger collaboration among millers, Governments, and policymakers.
“We stand at an important inflection point. The choices we make today will determine the food security of generations to come,” he said. “Together, we can build a Caribbean that is more self-reliant, more innovative, and more capable of shaping its own destiny.”