Investments in agriculture and agroprocessing to meet sustainable development in Guyana

Guyana is richly endowed with vast agricultural resources: fertile soil, abundant water resources, and a favorable climate, making it an ideal destination for agricultural investments. With this, public and private investors are committed to agricultural research, technology, and infrastructure, to improve the efficiency and productivity of farmers, as well as reduce the impact of climate change on the food sector. According to Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha, “Our government is channelling our energy and resources to Guyanese in every area and is giving greater importance to our productive sector, especially agriculture in an effort to meet the current food demands in Guyana as well as the Region.” The recent commitment of the minister to the implementation of shade house farming at Moblissa and Block 42, Region Ten along the Soesdyke-Linden Highway is evident. This innovative farming technique helps to improve growing conditions for plants by reducing summer heat, providing optimal light diffusion and ventilation, and minimizing the cost of irrigation and fertilization. President Ali's Agriculture Innovative and Entrepreneurship Programme (AIEP), in just over a year, the flagship initiative generated over $10 million in earnings for young farmers, as the vision for the youth in Guyana is to create opportunities for growth in employment and income, benefiting the agriculture sector, youths, and the economy. The continuous provision of materials to farmers, as well as the distribution of farm equipment, seeds and seedlings, chemicals, and fertilizers, has led to the establishment of over 100 shade houses by the end of 2022. Furthermore, the government is implementing policies to promote economic growth, job creation, and sustainable development in addition to agricultural initiatives. By doing so, the lives of Guyanese will improve, and Guyana will make a significant contribution to the growth and development of the wider Caribbean region.

Source(Image: Department of Public Information, News Source: Newsroom )

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20 Feb 2023 17:00 | by anaraine