Farmers across Guyana stand to benefit from a number of new initiatives aimed at boosting agricultural productivity while building a more climate-resilient sector.
Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha highlighted these efforts during a ministerial roundtable focused on closing the productivity gap in Latin America and the Caribbean.
The discussions formed part of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation’s regional conference currently underway in Brazil.
During his virtual presentation, Minister Mustapha pointed to several key initiatives being implemented locally, including the government’s premium free crop insurance program, which protects farmers against losses caused by floods and droughts.
More than 4,200 rice farmers have already enrolled in the program. The minister also noted that significant investments are being made in the drainage and irrigation system, farm-to-market roads, and weather stations to strengthen the sector’s resilience to climate-related hazards.
“All these systems we have put in place to ensure that we close the gap in the agriculture system in the production and productivity area,” he said.
The agriculture minister highlighted research, innovation, and technology as key to improving productivity, including a new agriculture laboratory at NAREI that will significantly increase the production of disease-free planting materials, along with integrated rice system and precision agriculture to improve efficiency.
He also emphasised that inclusion remains central to Guyana’s agriculture strategy.
“Closing the productivity gap is not possible without inclusion. In Guyana, our agricultural program ensures at least 35 per cent participation by youth and women. Programmess engaging more than 300 youths in agriculture, the construction of over 700 trade houses, and support for women-led agro-processing initiatives are helping to expand opportunities in the sector,” he added.
The agriculture minister says these efforts, along with climate-smart farming and regional collaboration, will help close the productivity gap while supporting sustainable growth.