By Saskia Warrick
Guyana’s rice production is experiencing significant growth, with the half-year target already exceeded.
The country has seen a steady increase in rice output over recent years, with production rising from 610,000 metric tonnes in 2022 to 653,710 metric tonnes in 2023.
For 2024, the target was set at 710,030 metric tonnes.
As of now, 362,030 metric tonnes have already been produced, positioning the industry on track to meet its annual goal.
Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha expressed optimism about the continued upward trend, highlighting the role of ongoing investments in sustaining this progress.
The rice industry has also seen improvements in yield, with production per hectare increasing from 5.9 tonnes in 2020 to approximately 6.6 tonnes in 2024.
Additionally, nine high-yielding rice varieties have been introduced in the past four years, further boosting productivity.
Modernization efforts, including the use of drone technology and Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping, are helping to enhance the industry’s efficiency and sustainability.