Minister within the Ministry of Agriculture, Vikash Ramkissoon, says the Agricultural Innovation and Entrepreneurship Programme (AIEP) is delivering measurable results, with more than 600 young people engaged across six regions and 70 per cent of full-time participants already starting agri-businesses.
Ramkissoon described AIEP as an incubator programme guided by President Dr. Irfaan Ali’s vision, designed to equip young people with the skills, knowledge and resources needed to succeed at every stage of the agricultural value chain.
He explained that the initiative relies on mentorship, targeted training, access to technology, and climate-smart, sustainable practices to nurture innovation and build resilient “agri-preneurs,” while supporting food security and expanding market opportunities for participants.
Importantly, Ramkissoon noted that the programme has maintained a strong gender balance, with a 60-40 female-to-male participation ratio, evidence, he said, that young women are increasingly taking up leadership roles in agriculture and agri-enterprise.
Beyond training, the minister pointed to tangible production outcomes emerging from the programme, including the launch of an agro-processing line and the commercial-scale cultivation of crops he said had never been grown in Guyana.
He also highlighted AIEP’s expansion into major protected agriculture operations, including what he described as the largest hydroponics facilities in the region.
Ramkissoon said the programme’s successes align with Guyana’s broader push to become a major food-producing hub for the region, as the country works to increase output, modernise production, and expand exports.
