-by Celestine Chacon

Thousands of farmers across Guyana are reaping the benefits of upgraded technology and targeted training through the Sustainable Agricultural Development Programme.

This was disclosed by Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha as he addressed the programme’s exit workshop held earlier today.

“Over 4,500 farmers benefitted from improved technology equipment and training, and hundreds of officers received capacity building assistance,” he said.

The minister emphasised that the program has strengthened Guyana’s leadership in the Caribbean, with agriculture ministers from Suriname and Barbados set to visit next week to observe and learn its systems and initiatives.

“Guyana [came] from the bottom, we are now right at the top we are leading not only with rhetoric, but action, production and we are leading by example,” he added.

Launched in 2017, the Sustainable Agricultural Development Program is a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Agriculture and the Inter-American Development Bank geared towards enhancing food security, strengthening institutional capacity, and advancing climate-smart practices within the agri sector.