Guyana could spend US$40M less on imported food next year

The country’s booming agriculture sector, described by Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha as the backbone of the economy, has been trumping major challenges like climate change, population growth and evolving dietary needs, and is on track to reducing the food import bill by 2025.

In fact, at the launch of Agriculture Month 2024 on Tuesday, Minister Mustapha said by 2025, the country would see a US$40 million reduction in importation, representing funds that can be used in other areas.

This is particularly noteworthy since Guyana is leading the Caribbean Community’s (CARICOM) plan to slash costly regional food imports by 25 per cent by 2025. Through this venture, countries agreed to grow more food, trade more among each other and import less from extra-regional sources.

In keeping with this year’s theme, “Transforming tomorrow – Championing food security through innovation and technology,” he advised those in the sector to use innovation and technology in a manner that would preserve the earth and not destroy it.

At the launch, at the Agriculture Ministry on Regent Street, Georgetown, he pointed out that new initiatives are coming on board in the sector, including how Guyana is poised to export soya to the Caribbean for the first time ever, and that six modern tunnel houses with breathers to produce hatching eggs will soon be procured.

The launch of Agriculture Month is seen as a celebration of all who make up the sector across the country and who labour tirelessly to advance it. It also highlights the crucial role that agriculture plays in the nation’s economy.

“From our coastal plain to the hinterland, our farmers have nurtured this nation, producing everything from rice to sugar to livestock to seafood and now we have added a number of new crops, new activities to that list,” Minister Mustapha expressed.

He urged that the focus must be on diversifying crops, enhancing productivity, and modernising agricultural practices.

“Innovation is key, precision agriculture, climate-smart farming techniques, and the expansion of agro-processing are just some of the ways we are working to ensure our farms produce more with fewer resources.”

Through innovation and technology, he said productivity can be increased, food waste can be reduced, and the overall quality of the agricultural output can be improved, making Guyana the regional food hub it is destined to be.