(Kaieteur News) – As Guyana’s hospitality industry expands, Government is moving to strengthen the link between local farmers and hotels, with the aim of ensuring more of the billions spent by visitors remains within the local economy.

Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha, says the objective is to develop a more structured, market-led approach to agricultural production, where farmers have greater certainty about what the hospitality sector requires and can plan production accordingly.

The minister made the remarks on Tuesday during an engagement with hotel owners, managers and representatives of the hospitality sector, where stakeholders discussed opportunities to increase the use of locally produced fruits, vegetables, herbs and other agricultural commodities.