Gov’t investing $150M for wharf to support corn/ soya bean production

The Government of Guyana hopes that the country will be self-sufficient in corn and soya at least by 2025 and to further support private investments, $150 million will be invested in a new wharf at the Tacama area under cultivation.

This is according to the Advisor to the Minister of Agriculture, Richard Blair, who spoke about Guyana’s food security plans and investment opportunities at the ongoing AfriCaribbean Trade and Investment Forum.

“In 2023, the government will provide $150 million for the construction of a wharf in the Tacama area which will provide critical riverain access to the area under cultivation,” Blair said.

Already, there are private investors growing corn and soya beans at the Tacama area, near the Berbice River. In September, the Ministry of Finance noted that Guyana cultivated over 3000 acres of soya beans and over 1200 acres of corn in the first half of 2023.

Earlier in September, President Irfaan Ali also indicated that the government is committed to ensuring that by the end of 2026, Guyana will have 50,000 acres of land cultivated in corn and soya.

And Blair noted that there is room for other investors in this sector. He said about 85,000 acres of land are available in the Ebini area for cultivation and highlighted that the government is keen on seeing more corn and soya beans produced there.

Further, Blair noted that corn and soya beans are crucial for the wider Caribbean region since poultry is a main protein supply for the Caribbean. As such, the production of corn and soya beans, which are used as animal feed, is vital.

Aside from corn and soya bean production, Blair outlined several other ventures the government is pursuing to enable Guyana and the wider Caribbean Community (CARICOM) achieve its ambitious goal of slashing food imports by 25 per cent by 2025.