Region 6 rice farmers urged to diversify into high-value crops, livestock

Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha has urged farmers across Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) to diversify outside traditional rice cultivation by setting aside one or two acres of land for integrated farming and high-value crop production as the Government pushes to modernise the agriculture sector. The call was made during a series of farmers’ outreach meetings held across the region on Saturday, where the Minister said rice farmers must begin looking beyond a single-crop economy if they are to increase earnings and reduce vulnerability to fluctuations in global rice prices. According to Mustapha, the Government wants rice farmers to reserve at least one or two acres from existing rice cultivation for diversified agricultural production, including high-value crops, coconuts and livestock.

“I’m asking the GRDB (Guyana Rice Development Board) and NAREI (National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute) to work around the farmers, at least to make available two acres of land from their rice cultivation, so that we can help them to go into integrated farming,” the Minister said. He explained that the initiative is part of a broader Government effort to modernise agriculture and create additional income streams for farmers. “We should always increase rice production, but that doesn’t mean that we must only depend on rice. We have to diversify,” Mustapha told farmers. The Minister said the agriculture sector can no longer operate with outdated methods if Guyana is to remain competitive and food-secure. “We have to change our mindset. We can’t expect to do things that we used to do 10, 15 years ago and expect to get better results,” he said. “If we don’t change our mindset, if we don’t change the way we do things, then we’ll be left behind. The world is moving on.” According to the Agriculture Minister, integrated farming would allow farmers to continue rice cultivation while simultaneously earning from crops and livestock capable of generating additional income. “Here again, you have a chance to make more money besides rice production,” he said. Mustapha said Government agencies, including the GRDB, NAREI and the Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA), would work directly with farmers to establish the programme. Among the areas being promoted are shade-house farming, coconut cultivation and tunnel-ventilated poultry production.

“We are moving away from this open-air planting, and we are building more shade houses around the country,” he said. According to Mustapha, Guyana imported approximately $2.6 billion in high-value crops in 2022, including broccoli, cauliflower, lettuce, carrots and bell peppers, many of which are now being produced locally through Government-supported initiatives. “That is why the President himself came up with the idea that let us bring more young people into agriculture,” Mustapha said while referencing the Agriculture Innovation and Entrepreneurship Programme. The Minister noted that produce from the initiative is now being sold in major supermarkets across the country and some crops are also being exported regionally. “You go into any major supermarket now, you will see produce from the Agriculture Innovation and Entrepreneurship Programme there,” he said. He added that growing demand from the tourism and hospitality sectors presents additional opportunities for farmers.
“The demand for these products is increasing every day,” Mustapha said.
The Minister also revealed that approximately 35,000 acres of new agricultural land are expected to become available through the construction of high-level canals between Number 68 Village and Mibicuri, Corentyne. “I am now advising you, start your application process, those of you who don’t have land,” he urged farmers.
Mustapha said the Government is also expanding coconut cultivation by importing high-yielding planting material and promoting tunnel-ventilated poultry production systems, which he said have significantly lower mortality rates. “All these opportunities are coming your way. You have to capitalise on these opportunities,” the Minister told farmers. He added that the Government remains committed to agriculture despite the country’s growing oil and gas revenues. “We could easily say that we are getting the money from the oil and gas sector and forget about agriculture. But agriculture is important. It will always remain one of the main pillars of Guyana’s economy”, Mustapha said.