Another record-breaking rice harvest as production surpasses 800,000 tonnes

Guyana’s rice industry is on track to achieve another historic year, with production already surpassing the 800,000-tonne mark before the halfway point of 2026, according to Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha.

The announcement was made on Tuesday during a meeting with rice farmers at the Regional Democratic Council compound in Region Two, where the minister highlighted the remarkable growth of the sector over the last five years despite challenging weather conditions.

According to Minister Mustapha, rice production has climbed steadily from approximately 500,000 tonnes in 2020 to 810,000 tonnes in 2025, marking one of the strongest periods of expansion for the industry in Guyana’s history.

“Since the inception of rice growing and rice planting in our country, we have now crossed the 800,000 tonne mark,” the minister told farmers.

He said the achievement is particularly significant because production increases were not driven by major expansion in cultivated acreage, but rather by improved yields, better crop management and stronger support systems for farmers.

“This crop we are planting, approximately 232,000 acres, not much from the other crops, but we have seen the yield has increased, we have better seed paddy varieties, we have better management of the system,” Mustapha explained.

The Agriculture Minister credited major investments in drainage and irrigation infrastructure, farm-to-market roads, fertiliser support and high-yielding seed varieties for helping to strengthen production and improve efficiency across the sector.

Guyana produced a record 725,282 metric tonnes of rice in 2024, but that figure was projected to rise to 810,000 tonnes in 2025, setting a new benchmark for the industry.

Looking ahead, the minister said the Government’s long-term goal is to push national rice production to one million tonnes as part of broader efforts to strengthen food security and support CARICOM’s target of reducing the region’s food import bill by 25 per cent by 2030.

Over the past several years, the Government has introduced a number of measures aimed at lowering production costs and improving the livelihoods of rice farmers.

Among those measures was an increase in fertiliser allocation, allowing farmers to receive one full bag per acre compared to the half-bag allocation previously provided.

The Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) has also implemented a direct payment system that allows farmers to receive payments of $300 per bag, a move officials say has improved transparency, accountability and the speed of transactions.

In response to paddy bug infestations affecting crops in some areas, the GRDB also carried out field spraying interventions to reduce crop losses and protect yields.

The Government is also exploring additional support measures for the industry, including plans to establish an interest-free financing facility to help farmers invest in technology, expand cultivation and modernise equipment used in rice production.

President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali recently announced that farmers will soon benefit from a digital platform designed to provide real-time agricultural information and support decision-making within the sector.

Additionally, the Government recently announced financial assistance for rice farmers, with those cultivating 50 acres or less expected to receive $15,000 per acre, while farmers with holdings above 50 acres will receive $10,000 per acre.

The continued expansion of the rice industry is seen as a major boost for rural communities and Guyana’s wider agricultural sector, with officials expressing confidence that ongoing investments and technological improvements will help sustain growth in the years ahead. [Extracted and modified from DPI]