Despite pandemic effects, Guyana’s food sector performing well

The Government declared that it remains resolute at ensuring citizens continue to benefit from
sustainable food security and nutritious food amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
They said that since they took office in August 2020, Guyana, unlike many countries globally,
has been a leading nation in efforts to advance and maintain its food sector. However, a new
report released recently by the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), listed
conflict, climate variability and extremes, economic slowdowns and downturns, as some of the
negative effects on food security and nutrition worldwide. It noted that the FAO believes that if
food systems are transformed and incentives are put in place for food systems to provide
affordable healthy diets, they could become a powerful driving force towards ending hunger,
food insecurity and malnutrition in all its forms. And this has been the objective of the new
Government, even as it successfully completed 15 months in office.

The government stressed that $41B was injected into the sector, which transformed it into a more
diversified, resilient, and competitive industry. They noted that the sector now encourages
investment, and spurs profitable businesses where agricultural producers operate. “We must
reform our food systems in order to respond to these challenges and seize the opportunities that
will arise from the demand for more food. Food security, also, is central to the attainment of
many of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),” President Irfaan Ali had said. He
continued, “If the region is to avoid being deterred from achieving the SDGs, it must transform
its food systems to ensure greater food security.”  Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha, following a
directive from the President, has been working tirelessly across the nation to curb the problems
affecting agriculturists.
It was noted that policies and programmes have also been implemented to promote climate
resilient and sustainable production of fruits and vegetables locally. Government explained that
they allocated over $2B to the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI).
They said that through this allocation, NAREI restarted its agriculture distribution programmes
to rural and hinterland communities, which were halted by the previous government. Mustapha
said through these programmes, hundreds of packets of seeds along with seedlings were
distributed to small scale farmers. He noted that packets of acouchi ant bait were distributed to
farmers, the fertiliser distribution programme was restarted and a $335M Farm Implement
Programme was launched for Regions One, Eight and Nine.
He pointed out that the land rental charges were reversed and restored to the original rates.
Further, the removal of VAT on key inputs in the poultry industry and zero-rating the poultry
industry was done as promised and has benefited an estimated 3,000-5,000 small farmers and
broiler producers. The agriculture minister said that new pump stations were installed while
others were rehabilitated to significantly improve the drainage capacity for thousands of acres of
land. This has also improved the livelihood of farmers and residents tremendously.
Additionally, following the May/June flood, over $7.8B was set aside to be distributed to
affected farmers countrywide. The intervention by government has helped thousands return to

their farmlands. Mustapha, has on many occasions, asserted that government will not forsake the
agriculture sector just because Guyana is becoming an oil rich economy.
He added that instead, the administration promised to work collectively with all stakeholders
including the private sector community, to ensure healthy foods are within reach.