Home News President Ali’s investment in Region 3 agri sector to bolster regional food...
…fisherfolk, rice and cash crop farmers seen as key to CARICOM’s food plan
The Essequibo Islands–West Demerara Chamber of Commerce and Industry (R3CCI) has strongly endorsed President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali’s renewed focus on Region Three’s agricultural sector, following his recent direct engagement with fisherfolk, rice producers, and cash crop farmers there.
R3CCI praised the President’s “bold vision” for empowering grass-roots producers and deepening the region’s contribution to national and CARICOM food security.
In a statement issued Friday, the Chamber welcomed the President’s targeted approach to delivering relief, equity, and investment to those operating at the lower tiers of the food production value chain.
“The President’s commitment offers new hope for sustainable livelihoods and shared prosperity across our region,” R3CCI declared, emphasising that these measures will transform lives while bolstering the resilience of Guyana’s food systems.
Among the transformational initiatives that inspired the R3CCI include the setting aside of $50 billion to turn all farm-to-market access roads into all-weather roads, reducing the cost of transportation, increasing efficiency, and reducing spoilage as well as the opening of hundreds of thousands of acres of new land for farming and other activities.
In fact, the Head of State had noted that the Government will provide combines to assist rice farmers with between 1 and 30 acres of land during harvesting.
He reminded of several other ongoing initiatives that are aimed at increasing productivity, resilience, and sustainability of the sector, including investing in world class storage and drying facilities in every region; developing a world class food hub for the processing, packaging and exportation of products; setting-up of an agriculture development fund; creating between 10-15 acres of land for high value agriculture crops using climate smart and resilient techniques including shade houses and hydroponics; building a fertiliser production facility, among others.
President Ali’s message to Region Three’s producers highlighted the importance of inclusivity, access to equipment, better infrastructure, and stronger market linkages. These, the Chamber noted, are long-standing priorities for local producers who have often struggled with rising input costs, fluctuating commodity prices, and limited access to financing.
“As champions of Region Three’s economy, we commend this renewed recognition of the hard-working citizens who form the backbone of our agricultural sector,” R3CCI stated. The organisation noted that investments in mechanisation, cooperative support, and agri-tech solutions will modernise traditional farming while creating new income opportunities for rural families.
Positioning Region Three as a driver of innovation and sustainable economic growth is consistent with President Ali’s broader “25 by 2025” plan for CARICOM to reduce its food import bill by 25 per cent. R3CCI said the region has “the right mix of talent, land, and logistics” to be a key player in realising this ambitious target.
The Chamber also pledged to intensify its collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and other stakeholders, affirming its role in building a robust support ecosystem for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the agriculture sector.
This includes helping agri-businesses access grants, market intelligence, and training to improve their competitiveness and expand their reach.
