Strengthening El Niño conditions and the prospect of hotter, drier periods are underscoring the need for climate-resilient farming and careful water management, Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha said as Guyana marked Agriculture Month 2026.
In his message for the month, observed under the theme “Innovate, Nourish, Grow: Building a Strong and Sustainable Guyana,” Mustapha said climate change, extreme weather, supply-chain disruptions and uncertainty in international markets have made food security increasingly important.
He said the conditions facing Guyana highlight the need for preparedness and for farmers to adopt production methods that can withstand changing weather patterns.
Mustapha pointed to the use of technology, research, mechanisation, digital agriculture and climate-smart systems as key to modernising the sector. He cited drone-assisted operations, hydroponic farming, the Farmers Connect App and tunnel-ventilated poultry systems as examples of innovations already being used.
The minister said agriculture, forestry and fishing grew by 11.5 per cent in 2025, while rice production rose from about 500,000 tonnes in 2020 to 810,299 tonnes last year.
He also said production across 15 priority commodities increased by 27.9 per cent between 2020 and 2025. The Government, he added, is investing in drainage and irrigation, farm-to-market infrastructure, research, training, agro-processing and technology to strengthen production and competitiveness.
Mustapha said investments in cold storage, logistics and market infrastructure are intended to reduce post-harvest losses and help producers reach new markets. The planned Regional Food Hub is expected to further support Guyana’s role as a supplier of agricultural products to regional and international markets.
The minister said the sector’s development also depends on creating opportunities for farmers, fisherfolk, agro-processors, women and young people. Agriculture Month activities will include farmers’ markets, the inaugural Farmers’ Conference and the Annual Honey Fest.
Guyana is also seeking to contribute to CARICOM’s Vision 25 x 2025+5 target of reducing the region’s food import bill by 25 per cent by 2030, Mustapha said.
He called for continued investment and innovation to build a more resilient and inclusive sector, saying agriculture must support food supplies, create livelihoods and strengthen communities.
