Min Mustapha declares that Region 9 has potential to become CARICOM’s food capital

The Guyana Government continues to invest heavily in the agriculture sector, in areas like large-scale vegetable and livestock production, coconut, and drainage systems, all of which contribute to the country’s rapidly growing food production system.

Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha, said recently, that the vast land space in Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo (Region Nine) is enough for the region to produce agricultural products to feed Caribbean countries. “This region for us is a very important region that can be the food capital at CARICOM. With the potential and the vast land space almost 57, 000 square kilometers of savannah and with the rich potential of this area, it has the potential to feed the Caribbean,” he stressed.

Mustapha noted that it is against this backdrop, that local farmers and producers are now challenged to lead the agri-food production agenda in the Caribbean, to allow CARICOM countries to attain food security, and reduce the food import bill by 25 percent by 2025. “And that is why our President, His Excellency has rolled out to the Caribbean community, the food strategy to reduce our food import bill by 25 percent in 2025, and the entire CARICOM has rallied around this call to reduce our import bill,” Mustsapha said,

The agriculture minister noted that since the government took office in 2020, the agriculture ministry has done tremendous work in developing this particular sector. He revealed that in 2021, $50M was allocated to boost agricultural production.  Mustapha said that since then, a committee was established to ensure maximum services are provided to agriculturists.

The minister added that in 2022 the sum of $4.1B was budgeted for upgrades and developments in Region Nine communities, paving the way for an enhanced education sector, improved health facilities and infrastructure. He pointed out that from that amount, $120M was allocated to agriculture in the region. Mustapha said that more recently, $28.7B was set aside for further advancement in the agriculture food sector, allowing farmers across the country to expand their agricultural production.

The minister added that Guyana’s thriving agriculture sector is a major creator of wealth, job opportunities and food security in the country.