Guyana opens Agriculture Month 2026 with push for high-tech food production

Nearly 30% of applications to the new Guyana Development Bank so far are from the agriculture sector, President Irfaan Ali said at the Farmers’ Conference in Georgetown. He said the trend shows renewed confidence in farming and youth participation, as the state-backed bank begins offering up to G$3 million in zero-interest, zero-collateral financing for small businesses and farmers.

Guyana is expanding food storage to build a three-month reserve that could help stabilise prices and protect Caribbean supplies during global disruptions, President Irfaan Ali said. He also said the country aims to become a regional food storage hub, while urging higher local production and better productivity plans to match rising demand and support agro-processing.

President Irfaan Ali said nearly 30% of Guyana Development Bank loan applications so far are for agriculture, as his government pushes new investment in poultry and wider food production. He also said talks are under way with commercial banks to offer similar low-interest support for farm and housing loans. Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha said the farmers’ conference is meant to shape policy and strengthen Guyana’s role in CARICOM food security.

Guyana is building new storage facilities for rice, honey, poultry and fresh produce to hold up to three months of food supply and help steady prices when global markets swing. President Irfaan Ali said the plan, announced at the Farmers’ Conference in Georgetown, will also strengthen Guyana’s role as a food-security hub for the Caribbean.

Guyana’s government is negotiating preferential bank loans for farmers expanding into medium- and large-scale production, with Republic Bank already committing funds for agricultural financing. President Irfaan Ali said the move is drawing strong interest, with nearly 30% of early applications to the Guyana Development Bank coming from agriculture, as the sector continues to grow and attract new investors.

Guyana will soon offer preferential bank loans for medium- and large-scale farmers as the government negotiates agricultural financing terms with commercial banks, President Irfaan Ali said at the Farmers’ Conference in Liliendaal. Republic Bank has already committed funds, while Demerara Bank’s 5% poultry loans may be folded into the new scheme. The move aims to sustain rising farm investment and continued agriculture growth.

President Irfaan Ali said a private poultry investor will soon open a new processing plant in Guyana that will triple capacity, signaling rising confidence in the country’s agriculture sector. He also said the government aims to produce half of its hatching eggs locally by end-2027 and move closer to full local production by 2028, while investing in farm infrastructure and agricultural education.

Guyana plans to stop importing onions by the end of this year as it expands local cultivation to about 500 acres, with Region Nine leading production alongside Regions Two, Five and Six. Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha said the government will support farmers with planting material and technical help, as part of a wider drive to cut food imports and boost regional food security.

Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha visited the Farmers’ Market at the Sophia Exhibition Centre as Agriculture Month 2026 continued, meeting farmers, vendors and shoppers. The market, launched under President Irfaan Ali, connects producers directly with consumers, helping farmers earn more and giving buyers fresh local food at lower prices. The government plans to expand the markets monthly across regions.

Agriculture Month 2026 is being observed in Guyana throughout October, with FAO highlighting innovation, investment and climate-smart practices to build a stronger, more sustainable food system. The month also recognises the role of farmers, fishers and women across the agrifood sector, while urging young people and consumers to support local agriculture.

FAO has welcomed Guyana’s drive to modernise its agriculture sector as Agriculture Month 2026 highlights food security, economic growth and regional resilience. President Irfaan Ali said the government is expanding investment in roads, irrigation, agro-processing and new technologies, while FAO stressed the roles of women, youth and local farmers in building a stronger food system.

The FAO is urging Guyanese to back local farmers and fishers and to see agriculture as a field for innovation and jobs as Agriculture Month 2026 gets underway under the theme “Innovate, Nourish, Grow: Building a Strong and Sustainable Guyana.” The month will spotlight technology, climate-smart farming and women’s role in the sector. The Agriculture Ministry also plans a weekly farmers’ market at Sophia to give consumers cheaper produce and help farmers earn more.

Guyana’s agriculture, fishing and forestry sectors contracted by 0.5% in the first half of 2026, driven mainly by a 6.4% drop in “other crops” after heavy rainfall disrupted planting and damaged fields. Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha said the decline is likely temporary and expects the sector to rebound by year-end.

Guyana will limit large-scale fruit imports to protect local farmers and their markets, Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha said, while allowing imports of fruits not grown locally. The ministry is also launching weekly farmers’ markets nationwide and urging climate-ready farming as El Niño threatens drier, hotter conditions.

President Irfaan Ali said Guyana aims to become the Caribbean’s food capital by expanding agriculture through more production, processing, exports and technology, backed by a 515% increase in the sector’s budget since 2020. He said the push is vital for national security, jobs and regional food security, with new investments in infrastructure, agro-processing and financing for small producers.

President Irfaan Ali is urging Guyanese youth to see agriculture as a modern, technology-driven industry with opportunities in entrepreneurship, innovation and investment. He said government is backing precision farming, digital services, hydroponics and other systems, while the planned Guyana Development Bank could improve access to capital for small producers and agro-processors.

Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha said Guyana’s farmers must get better returns for the food they produce, as he opened Agriculture Month 2026. He said the sector has been revitalized through technology, financing and regional cooperation, helping strengthen food security, create jobs and reduce hunger in Guyana and the Caribbean.

Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha says Guyana is pushing innovation, technology and climate-smart farming to boost food security, raise production and expand regional markets. He cited an 11.5% sector growth in 2025, higher rice output and gains in priority crops as signs the industry is strengthening economic diversification and CARICOM food security.