Almost 30% of Development Bank applications linked to agriculture – Pres. Ali

(Kaieteur News) – Since its launch the Guyana Development Bank has seen almost 30% of its loan application being specific to the agricultural sector, President Irfaan Ali disclosed on Monday during an address at the Farmers’ Conference and Market Day 2026 held at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre.

He explained that the government has been able to build consortiums of young persons who are now into poultry. “Listening to their stories, there is an indication that the direction of the policy is leading to a new wave of excitement, a new wave in agriculture and it’s this fact that almost 30% of all the applications so far in the Development Bank is in the agricultural sector… That is in productivity.”

The Guyanese head-of-state noted that once there are persons interested in the production of goods within the sector, then it will continue to grow and expand. Discussions are now being held with all of the commercial banks and negotiations are underway to have them offer similar incentives that are offered by the Development Bank for low-income housing and agricultural loans. This needs to be done so that persons who are interested in getting into medium-large-scale production can get those loans at affordable rates.