Guyana to double soya cultivation to become net exporter

Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha has said soya production output will be doubled with plans to cultivate 12,000 acres of soya twice per year by 2026.

The initiative, which forms part of the government’s wider push toward agricultural expansion and food security, is expected to make Guyana a net exporter of soya within the Caribbean. The soya cultivation continues to expand with 5,000 acres recently under cultivation and a record of 12,000 cultivated by farmers in 2024. Now, the government hopes to double this.

“We are looking to have de-subsection by next year because this crop starts now and will end by March of next year.

“I am hoping that we can do 12,000 acres two times per year, and then after that, we’ll be a net exporter in the Caribbean,” the Minister stated.

Minister Mustapha said this is setting the foundation for consistent, large-scale cultivation. He added that the sector’s long-term goal is not only to meet domestic demand but also to supply neighbouring Caribbean states, solidifying Guyana’s role as the region’s “breadbasket.”

He noted that increased production will not only boost regional exports but also help Guyana achieve self-sufficiency and reduce its reliance on imported commodities.

“As long as we can reduce the cost here in imports and we can be self-sufficient, we can save approximately US$40 million,” Minister Mustapha said.

The move aligns with the CARICOM 25 by 2025 + 5 initiative which seeks to reduce the region’s food import bill by 25 percent by the year 2025. Guyana, as the lead country for agriculture and food security within CARICOM, has been spearheading efforts to improve productivity and modernise farming practices through investment in drainage, irrigation, and new technology.