Onderneeming to see expanded poultry, high-value crop production

…as Govt eyes wider agri development in Reg 2

The Government is looking to expand agricultural development around Onderneeming, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), with plans for poultry and high-value crop production alongside the new $1.6 billion paddy drying and storage facility being constructed in the area.
Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha, speaking at Friday’s sod-turning ceremony for the facility, said the development of the 10-acre site should not be viewed solely as an investment in paddy storage.

“So, the storage of rice is just one component of or one aspect of the development that will be taking place in this area,” Mustapha said.
He said the Government intends to continue investing in infrastructure, technology, and services to modernise agriculture and ensure farmers benefit as production increases.
“This here, what we are doing, approximately 10 acres of land clearing for this facility, is not the only development that will take place here,” he said.
According to Mustapha, further agricultural development in the surrounding area will include poultry and high-value crops as part of efforts to diversify Region Two’s agricultural economy.
“As I said, this facility here we must look at not only as a facility that will store bodies, but also as the beginning of a lot of other development that will come your way,” he said.
The broader investment comes as the Government continues to increase its allocation to the agriculture sector.
Minister within the Ministry of Agriculture Vickash Ramkissoon said the Government’s allocation to agriculture has increased from approximately $18 billion in 2020 to $113 billion in 2026.
“You can remember not very long ago the investments in this sector were around 18 billion dollars in 2020, and from then to now, our Government in 2026, we have allocated 113 billion dollars in this sector. It is because we take this sector very seriously,” Ramkissoon said.
He said the Government has also invested in the rice industry through measures including fertiliser and crop insurance, while setting a target of producing one million metric tonnes of rice by 2030.
Ramkissoon said achieving that target would require collaboration with farmers and an understanding of the challenges they face.
He said the new paddy drying and storage facility would form part of a wider model aimed at giving farmers greater flexibility in managing their produce.
The facility will provide 10,000 tonnes of storage capacity, allowing farmers to store paddy rather than being forced to sell when market conditions are unfavourable.
“Today again, ladies and gentlemen, we see the Government here is investing tremendously to ensure that you, the farmers, do not sell your paddies very cheap because this will be a facility where you can store that paddy and wait for your right price,” Ramkissoon said.
He said the Government also intends to address the financing needs of farmers who choose to store their paddy rather than sell it immediately.
According to Ramkissoon, the Guyana Development Bank will work with farmers to provide financing to enable them to return to their fields and continue production.
“Because the question would be, if you don’t have the market, then you have to go back to your farms. Where do I get the money? So, the answer to that question is the Guyana Development Bank,” he said.
Ramkissoon described the development as an important milestone for Region Two and the country’s agriculture sector while indicating that further investment is expected.
“It is an important day and a historic day in the history of this country because I don’t think the Government will just stop with this one,” he said.