Private Sector welcomes co-investment approach to advancing agriculture

Dear Editor,
As a member of Guyana’s private sector deeply invested in the future of our nation’s agriculture, I wish to express my full support for the recent initiative by the Minister of Agriculture, Hon. Zulfikar Mustapha, to deepen public–private co-investment partnerships across the agricultural sector.
Minister Mustapha’s recent engagement with the Private Sector Commission’s Agriculture Sub-Committee marks a welcome and visionary shifting in how we approach agricultural development. His message that the Government will focus on building the necessary infrastructure while the private sector invests in production and value addition reflects a model that is both sustainable and practical.
Over the past few years, we have witnessed substantial public investment in farm-to-market roads, drainage and irrigation, silos, and wharf facilities. These have laid the foundation for modernising our agricultural landscape. The next logical step is to harness private capital, technology, and entrepreneurship to expand production and processing.
Moreover, the Ministry’s plans to develop 100,000 acres of farmland, establish 13 agro-processing facilities and revive sugar production and refining demonstrate a comprehensive vision one that aims not just to grow more, but to produce smarter and add value locally. The proposed rice storage facilities and small-scale sugar factory at Skeldon will directly enhance competitiveness and reduce post-harvest losses.
For the private sector, these developments represent real opportunities for collaboration, from processing and packaging to logistics, marketing, and export. We see these initiatives as essential to achieving the President’s broader vision of food security and agricultural self-sufficiency, both in Guyana and across the Caribbean.
Of course, partnership requires mutual trust, clear policy frameworks and efficient coordination. We encourage the continued establishment of transparent mechanisms for co-investment ensuring that risks and rewards are equitably shared, and that investors have confidence in the long-term stability of such arrangements.
Guyana is uniquely positioned to lead a new agricultural revolution in CARICOM, combining fertile land, a dynamic private sector, and a supportive Government. By embracing co-investment and joint responsibility, we can transform agriculture from subsistence to sophistication from exporting raw products to exporting high-value goods proudly made in Guyana.
The private sector stands ready to play its part.

Yours sincerely,
A concerned member of the Private Sector
Georgetown, Guyana