By Saskia Warrick | January 20, 2025
In light of a 21% contraction in the sugar industry, Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha has directed the management of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (Guysuco) to shift from a “bossing around” leadership style to a more collaborative approach with employees in order to enhance efficiency and meet production targets.
With an ambitious target of 101,000 tonnes of sugar production set for 2025, Minister Mustapha emphasized the importance of improved management practices and greater accountability.
He also noted that while 40% of Guysuco’s cultivation processes have been mechanized, further advancements are planned to boost productivity.
To ensure that management practices align with these goals, Mustapha announced his intention to conduct unannounced visits to sugar estates, aiming to monitor progress and ensure that directives are being followed at all levels of the operation.
In the 2025 national budget, the government has allocated 13.3 billion dollars to Guysuco from the agriculture budget, which totals 104.6 billion dollars.
These funds are intended to reduce production costs, maximize output, and support modernization efforts within the company.
The Ministry is hopeful that these strategic shifts and investments will help turn around the sugar industry’s performance in the coming year.