Guyana stands at a vital juncture in the evolution of its agricultural landscape. Recent discussions between Guyana and Colombia on deepening cooperation through a proposed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to advance Guyana’s Cut Rose Project mark a significant and forward-looking step, not just for floriculture but for the broader agricultural sector.
This initiative, which centers on expanding the production and export potential of cut roses, reflects a deliberate national effort to reduce dependency on imports, diversify agricultural output, create meaningful employment, and position Guyana as a player in the regional and possibly international floriculture market.
Floriculture, the cultivation of flowers, is often dismissed as a niche or luxury segment, but in truth, it holds tremendous economic, social, and cultural value. Guyana, which currently imports approximately 42,000 roses annually from countries like the United States, Canada, and the Netherlands, has long had untapped potential in this area. The Cut Rose Project, championed under the vision of President Dr. Irfaan Ali, was launched to directly address this import imbalance while creating employment opportunities, particularly for vulnerable groups such as single mothers.
The project’s early results are promising. By June 2023, more than 12,000 roses had been harvested, with a weekly production rate of roughly 500 stems. Financially, the initiative generated over $4 million in the first half of 2023 alone, signaling that with proper investment, guidance, and market access, local floriculture can become a viable income-generating subsector within the agricultural economy.
Building a successful domestic cut flower sector requires not only the physical cultivation of plants but also access to advanced horticultural techniques, climate-resilient varieties, efficient supply chains, skilled labor, and reliable market connections both domestically and abroad. This is where partnerships, particularly South-South collaborations like the one now being explored with Colombia, become invaluable.
Colombia’s floriculture sector is world-renowned. It is the second-largest exporter of cut flowers globally, accounting for a significant share of roses, carnations, and other blooms found in flower shops across North America and Europe. Its success has been built on decades of scientific research, innovation, mechanization, and strong links between the private sector, government, and research institutions. If Guyana can tap into Colombia’s wealth of experience and technological know-how, the benefits would extend well beyond just the rose farms currently operating.
There is potential here for broader knowledge transfer across horticulture, hydroponics, export logistics, pest and disease management, and sustainable agricultural practices. As the climate crisis intensifies, the ability to produce high-quality crops efficiently, with minimal environmental footprint, will determine which nations thrive agriculturally. Ambassador Graybern Livingston Forbes’s expressed interest in Guyana’s hydroponic achievements signals an opportunity for reciprocal learning, where Guyana’s innovations can also inform Colombia’s agricultural advancement.
Importantly, this evolving collaboration underscores the growing relevance of South-South cooperation. For too long, developing nations have been framed as dependent on the Global North for development models and trade partnerships. But countries like Guyana and Colombia are showing that meaningful, mutually beneficial collaboration can — and must — happen within the Global South, leveraging shared challenges, geographic proximity, and cultural understanding to drive innovation and progress.
For Guyana, the Cut Rose Project symbolizes a strategic shift toward agricultural diversification, economic empowerment, and national self-reliance. Every rose harvested on local soil reduces import dependency, saves foreign exchange, and creates jobs, particularly for women who are often underrepresented in formal agricultural work. With the right partnerships and frameworks in place, this project could also open doors for export opportunities, placing Guyanese-grown roses in regional markets and even on international shelves.
The proposed MOU with Colombia must therefore be approached with clear, strategic goals. It should outline not only technical cooperation and research exchanges but also plans for market development, certification standards, and investment in supporting infrastructure such as cold storage and transport. Moreover, the government must ensure that the project’s social goals, notably the empowerment of single mothers and the inclusion of small-scale farmers remain at the forefront, even as commercialization scales up.
With careful planning and committed execution, the partnership could transform the country’s floriculture prospects.
