At his weekly press conference on Thursday, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) shared that the government has continuously supported agricultural development in the various regions of Guyana.
This was in response to statements by the opposition that there has been no increase in food production in Regions 1, 7, and 10, and part of Region 4.
The Vice President stated, “We’ve supported more agricultural initiatives in [Region] 10, 7, 1, than APNU ever supported in any part of the country, and that’s a fact”. He further shared that there has been more support for agriculture, drainage, and infrastructure in the Berbice River, Linden, and the Demerara River.
While acknowledging the need for more agriculture-based services in other regions, Dr Jagdeo highlighted the prospects for agriculture development in Region One.
“We are looking at the possibility for upgrading now the terminals in region one [and] the wharves so we can ship directly into the Caribbean. We’re sending better breeding stocks into the region,” he stated.
In crop production, the Tacama Mega Farm along the Berbice River is a point of pride for the Ministry of Agriculture. Millets that were planted in August of 2023 have surpassed their expectations by 100%, according to the Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha.
President Dr. Irfaan Ali committed to 500 acres of millet, whereas we are currently at 1300 acres. After this trial period, millet production is expected to continue on a more large-scale basis in Regions Four, Nine, and Ten.
President Ali, who is now the Chairperson of the Caribbean Community, shared on his social media page that there are 500 acres of sesame seeds currently under cultivation.
In October of 2023, over 160,000 tonnes of corn and soya were harvested at the Tacama Savannah. Guyana is on track to achieve self-sufficiency in these crops, despite just starting production in 2021.
The undertaking of new crops is a part of the Government’s plan to diversify crop production to support food security and self-sufficiency.
The country’s devotion to improving the agricultural sector was acknowledged by the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), as President Ali received the IICA Award for contribution to Food Security and Sustainable Development in May of 2023.
President Ali, who serves as the Lead Head on Agriculture, Agricultural Diversification, and Food Security in CARICOM, has been hailed for his “passion” and “strategic outlook” for transforming regional agriculture.